Can an Individual’s Mentality Affect Their Level of Poverty?
An individual’s mentality affects one’s levels of aspiration, and in turn, the ability to provide for oneself. This is associated with poverty on several different levels. Cash incentives cannot necessarily create the desire to rid oneself of a position of poverty. Addressing the issue of desire versus motivation is an aspect to observe when trying to attack the root of poverty and what prevents individuals from attaining a poverty-free position. Lack of resources can affect an individual’s self-confidence, and in turn, possibly individual levels of aspiration. The right to development can be observed as an individual mentality and perception, but can also be perceived as a governmental obligation to fulfill—an obligation to create an environment where development and improvement is possible.
The significance of this topic is the fundamental aspect that could affect the development of poverty prevention. Programs such as Oportunidades are a good beginning attempt to battle poverty; however, it doesn’t break the culture of poverty itself. The program, as described by Tina Rosenberg in the New York Times article, ‘A Payoff Out of Poverty’, is to prevent the poor from transmitting the culture of poverty on to their children. The development of “Opportunity” in New York City, was its own version of Oportunidades, however, this program too, faces the challenge of being unable to create personal responsibility and drive in the end, on the part of individuals—according to senior member Heather MacDonald, from the Manhattan Institute.
Some other prime examples are the incentive programs that are offered in both Oportunidades and Opportunity—particularly addressing the mentality and drive of children and high school students through cash rewards. The issue at hand is that the promise of money for attendance, does not cause the students to necessarily perform well in those same schools. The difference observed is in families and individuals that actually have the need and want for improvement. Lack of resources (such as food and money for medication), can cause low self-esteem, and limit oneself from higher aspirations. Tough conditions surrounding the provision of schools and public hospitals in good condition, affect individual perception of attainment. If there are a limited number of schools, and ones in poor condition at that, make them less appeasing. If there is a fundamentally positive community with good resources—it is suggested that there will be higher levels of motivation and aspiration towards getting oneself out of a position of poverty. A positive relationship between oneself, family, and community affects mentality, and in turn, perception of position in poverty as was assessed by Deepa Narayan in ‘Global Synthesis: Consultations with the Poor’
An individual right’s to development was discussed in the Harvard Human Rights Journal, in the article ‘The Human Right to Development: Human Rhetoric and Reality’. The right to develop oneself is considered an inherent right, however, the practice is not as concrete an idea. Governmental involvement across the world is a controversial debate; whether it is a topic of individual interest and attainment versus a governmental obligation to create an environment that would allow for development. It is apparent that governmental roles in programs such as Oportunidades and Opportunity—have created the framework for an environment in which individuals in a position of poverty can eventually rid themselves of all circumstances surrounding poverty. The issue at hand is whether or not the creation of these governmental programs will affect the individual issue of aspiration resolving a position in poverty.
In conclusion, it is apparent that there are primary needs of every human being, such as health, shelter, and nutrition (food). To be educated on these issues is vital to the improvement of those experiencing poverty—in other words, a lack of one or more of those primary needs. To educate individuals, addresses only one aspect of those issues, leaving the area of individual drive and motivation, unattended. Financial incentives are one way of creating desire, but not necessarily the ideal form of it. Creating a positive community that is enriched with education and motivation is key to human development and a solution to individual poverty—which can eventually expand across an international level. Evaluating what causes motivation in each individual human being is hardly a feasible task, however analyzing what factors enable certain individuals to rid themselves of the culture of poverty would be a beneficial experiment in favor of poverty prevention in the future.
Resources:
Harvard Human Rights Journal. 2008. ‘The Human Right to Development: Human Rhetoric and Reality’.
Narayan, Deepa et al. 1999. ‘Global Synthesis: Consultations with the Poor.’ Poverty Group, World Bank.
Rosenberg, Tina. 2008. ‘A Payoff Out of Poverty’. New York Times.
© 2010, Diana_Chiang. All rights reserved.