Proverty , Is it the Cause of Lack of Brain Power? Essay

Submitted By Jasmine_Logan
Words: 438
Pages: 2

September 10, 2013 Lack of Brainpower
Topic: Poverty can sap brainpower
Source: http://articles.latimes.com/2013/aug/30/science/la-sci-poverty-iq-20130831 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/tax-reality-check/millionaire.html http://dontmesswithtaxes.typepad.com/dont_mess_with_taxes/2012/06/whats-your-total-tax-burden.html
Summary:
On August 30th, 2013 cultural anthropologist discovered that living in poverty can decrease intellectual power. The cerebral intensity recommended to strive with what little resources obtained can cause a strain to individual’s advantages to process information. The distress can also continue the cycle of poverty. Studies show that no matter the location, poverty can distress anyone’s intellectual thoughts and add more distress to their lives.
In addition, welfare programs that are meant to benefit families in poverty can boomerang and ultimately add more ramifications to a conduct. “There's a widespread tendency to assume that poor people don't have money because they are lazy, unmotivated or just not that sharp, said study coauthor Sendhil Mullainathan, a behavioral economist at Harvard University.” (LA Times). It’s not the behavior nor can actions of being unmotivated but living in poverty itself have a negative effect. Science indicates that when people are forced to focus on a pressing financial problem like a pending utility bill, they develop an obsession and ignore their long- term goals. Psychologist came to the conclusion that distress about pending payments had drained brain power. Governments should avoid putting subjective taxes on people, whether they're well off or poor.
Opinion:
Poverty is considered largely unavoidable as traditional modes of production were scarce to give an entire population a comfortable standard of living.
At least 80% of