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Amid cost-of-living worries and concern for the nation’s future, stress is reshaping Americans’ lives
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Learn about key issues impacting psychologists today
It Takes a Village to Support the American Dream
The study of poverty and access to opportunity does not fit into one discipline. The Pew Charitable Trust’s research examines avenues for disciplines, including psychology, to examine poverty in the United States and to explore strategies which inch closer to a common goal: a country in which opportunity is within reach of everyone.
Erin Currier and Sarah Sattlemeyer
What Can Behavioral Economics Tell Us About Depletion and Decision Making?
Scarcity lowers the mental efficiency of individuals to manage day-to-day affairs, planning and solving problems. Intersectionalities of poverty, race and gender makes it less likely for a person to “recover” from a mistake, fomenting helplessness and futility. . There is a need for psychologists and policymakers to devise programs that are less about punishment and more about mitigating burdens.
Ramani Durvasula, PhD
A War on Children: The Consequences of Poverty on Child Development
When the basic needs of poor children are met they experience better health and educational outcomes. Safety net programs have played a vital role in keeping children and families from falling through the cracks. However, there is a continual need for advocacy to ensure social, physical, material and spiritual needs of the nation’s most vulnerable children and families.
Roseanne Flores, PhD
How the Mental Drain of Poverty Undermines Economic Opportunity
It is not only harder for the poor to do things because money is tight, but also because having the mental room to proactively think, act and follow through is even tighter. Solutions arising from behavioral economics have shown surprisingly remarkable success on financial behavior, nutrition, exercise, smoking and other behaviors.
Lisa A. Gennetian, PhD
John’s Story: How Racism and Classism Operate within the Mental Health Care System
John’s case study examines the inherent racism, classism and oppressive dynamics which are present in the mental health care system. The three problems highlighted are the divergence of the patient’s attention from their oppressive environment, medications leading to iatrogenic illnesses and structural racism embedded in psychological diagnosis, testing and treatment.
Eric Greene, PhD
How to End the Criminalization of Poverty
Socioeconomic status and race have an influence on incarceration practices. Psychologists can work with policymakers, law enforcement officials, health care providers and community members to address the criminalization of individuals living in poverty. Such efforts can help us move away from a culture that punishes the poor, and move toward improving social conditions, health and well-being.
Dionne Jones, PhD
Our Invisible Youth: Addressing Disparities in the School-to-Prison Pipeline
In the United States, those who are economically disadvantaged are rendered invisible by a lack of policies designed to increase the capacity of multiple systems. As a consequence for this lack of action, youth growing up in poor communities are subject to numerous injustices funneled into the school-to-prison pipeline.
Dawn X. Henderson, PhD
It’s Not Just Us: We Can’t Fight Poverty without Collaboration
Building on decades of research from psychologists, economists, neuroscientists and academics, we are inching closer to disentangling the hurdles that are in the way of fighting the War on Poverty. Collaborative projects are needed across the social sciences to initiate high-impact, research-based change to tackle socioeconomic inequalities that continue to plague our society.
Samantha A. Melvin, PhD
