Theories of Poverty Flashcards

The 'culture of poverty' theory, popularized by Oscar Lewis, suggests that poverty persists primarily because of:

Answer: Internalized values and behaviors passed across generations

Lewis argued that people in poverty develop a distinct subculture with shared values, attitudes, and behaviors that are transmitted to children and perpetuate poverty.

Which theoretical perspective views poverty as a functional necessity that motivates people to fill less desirable but necessary social roles?

Answer: Structural functionalism

Structural functionalists like Davis and Moore argued that wage inequality incentivizes people to take on difficult or undesirable jobs essential to society.

The concept of 'relative poverty' differs from 'absolute poverty' in that relative poverty is defined by:

Answer: A person's income compared to the median income of their society

Relative poverty measures deprivation in relation to the living standards of others in the same society, while absolute poverty focuses on minimum survival needs.

Amartya Sen's 'capabilities approach' to poverty emphasizes that poverty should be understood as:

Answer: Deprivation of substantive freedoms and the ability to live a valued life

Sen argued that poverty is fundamentally about the absence of capabilities—the real freedoms people have to achieve well-being—not merely low income.

Which theory of poverty argues that economic systems deliberately maintain a 'reserve army of labor' to keep wages low and profits high?

Answer: Marxist/conflict theory

Marx argued that capitalism requires a surplus population of unemployed workers to suppress wage demands and maximize capitalist profit.

The 'spatial mismatch hypothesis' developed by John Kain explains urban poverty as resulting from:

Answer: The geographic distance between low-income residents and available jobs

Kain found that jobs moved to suburbs while low-income minority workers remained in inner cities, creating a geographic mismatch that caused unemployment and poverty.

When a community action professional uses an 'asset-based' approach rather than a 'deficit-based' approach to poverty, they are:

Answer: Focusing on community strengths and resources to drive change

Asset-based community development (ABCD) builds on existing strengths, skills, and resources within a community rather than focusing on its deficits and needs.

The 'social exclusion' framework used in European anti-poverty policy differs from income-based poverty measures because it emphasizes:

Answer: Multidimensional barriers to full participation in society

Social exclusion encompasses barriers to participation in economic, social, political, and cultural life, going beyond simple income measures.

Which of the following best describes the 'opportunity structure' theory of poverty?

Answer: Limited access to legitimate means of achieving success causes poverty

Cloward and Ohlin's opportunity structure theory holds that poverty results when people are blocked from legitimate pathways to economic success.

A community action professional who believes that poverty stems from systemic racism and historical disinvestment in communities of color is applying which theoretical lens?

Answer: Structural racism framework

The structural racism framework examines how policies, institutions, and historical practices have created and maintained racial disparities in wealth and opportunity.

The 'feminization of poverty' concept, introduced by Diana Pearce in 1978, refers to the trend that:

Answer: Women and female-headed households are disproportionately represented among the poor

Pearce observed that women, particularly single mothers, were becoming an increasingly large share of the poor population due to wage gaps, caregiving responsibilities, and lack of support.

In the context of poverty theory, 'intersectionality' as developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw refers to:

Answer: How overlapping social identities (race, gender, class) combine to shape experiences of oppression

Intersectionality examines how multiple social identities interact to create overlapping systems of disadvantage that cannot be understood by examining each dimension separately.

Which poverty theory would most directly support expanding the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) as an anti-poverty strategy?

Answer: Human capital theory

Human capital theory holds that investing in workers' productivity and rewarding work leads to poverty reduction, making EITC—which supplements wages—a logical policy tool.

The 'deserving vs. undeserving poor' distinction in American poverty discourse is most closely associated with which theoretical tradition?

Answer: Moral/behavioral theory

Moral and behavioral perspectives on poverty have historically distinguished between those seen as poor through no fault of their own versus those perceived as making poor choices.

The 'concentration effects' thesis by William Julius Wilson argues that poverty is worsened when:

Answer: Poor people are geographically concentrated together in isolated communities

Wilson found that concentrating poverty in urban ghettos amplifies disadvantage by removing middle-class role models, institutions, and networks from poor neighborhoods.

Which approach to poverty intervention is most consistent with 'empowerment theory'?

Answer: Enabling communities to identify needs and develop their own solutions

Empowerment theory emphasizes building individual and community capacity to take control of their circumstances and advocate for systemic change.

The concept of 'precarity' in contemporary poverty scholarship refers to:

Answer: Unstable, insecure employment and living conditions that make poverty difficult to escape

Precarity describes the condition of insecure work, housing, and income that characterizes modern poverty, particularly in gig economy and low-wage service sectors.

According to 'strain theory' as applied to poverty, individuals experiencing economic strain may respond through 'innovation,' which means:

Answer: Pursuing culturally approved goals through illegitimate means

Merton's strain theory defines 'innovation' as accepting society's success goals (e.g., wealth) but using illegal or deviant means to achieve them when legitimate paths are blocked.

A community needs assessment that asks residents about their lived experience of poverty rather than relying solely on census data best reflects which theoretical orientation?

Answer: Phenomenological/interpretive approach

A phenomenological approach values the subjective, lived experience of those in poverty as essential knowledge that quantitative data alone cannot capture.

The 'bootstrap' or 'self-help' theory of poverty holds that individuals can escape poverty primarily through:

Answer: Personal initiative, hard work, and individual responsibility

The bootstrap theory emphasizes individual agency and effort as the primary means of escaping poverty, often minimizing structural or systemic barriers.