Introduction.
The World Health Organization describes poverty as the greatest cause of human suffering. This is based on income and consumption levels in relation to the poverty line. The WHO and World Bank perceive those people living below the poverty line as poor implying that they do not have the ability to access basic needs, resources, education, and above all proper health (Greenwood and Holt, 2010). Poverty leads to diversity and alienation in emotional, behavioral and psychological concepts. It is an obstacle to future development among many who grow in it as they cannot have proper education to sustain themselves or families in the future. Poverty has been described as a key source to most medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, premature births, and physical developmental delays, among others. Poverty is associated to mental, physical and social challenges, which bring about societal differences built on social status.
Cause analysis.
The effects of poverty are often interrelated so that a single problem hardly occurs alone. For instance, poor sanitation leads to spread of diseases, lack of clean water, etc., which make people vulnerable to serious health implications. If such situations are not handled, the probability of the problem spreading to a community becomes high. Impoverished communities are often discriminated leading to the formation of poverty cycles (Ellis, 2000).
Poverty comes in two different forms; generational and situational. The latter occurs when poverty is as a result of changes in finances due to job loss, illness etc. The former is the most common and occurs when people develop ingrained beliefs that undermine their chances of future success. This limits their emotional, physical, and social interaction development. For instance, children who live in generational poverty backgrounds often grow with those circumstances to a point that they view the circumstances as beyond their control. This limits how they interact, as well as their health status (Greenwood and Holt, 2010).
Research indicates that poverty impacts adversely on a child’s development. The department of health reports that most people admitted in public hospitals come from the poor family. The level of poverty in a family affects human development in children. In these families, acquiring proper medical attention remains pervasive, and this leaves the children in a deteriorating physical development condition. Poverty levels also affect behavioral development, which impact on the social development. Most poor people result to crime in search of better lives, and this affects their socialization. In addition, research indicates that children from economically disadvantaged backgrounds are more likely to experience socio-emotional challenges, such as low esteem, internalized behavioral problems, impaired social relationships, and low levels of sociability. This makes them feel alienated from their peers, psychiatric challenges, and in some extreme cases some even experience mental challenges.
Comparative analysis.
Different sociologists are of the idea that societal class is built on individual needs, and not on the level of finances (Ellis, 2000). The idea is that needs describe class, and lifestyle. In addition, they believe that the background that one has been raised does not affect ones future. To some extent, this is agreeable, but in the real sense needs are classified by the level of individual finances. Coming from a poor family does not limit ones development considering the efforts put forward by the government in support of poverty eradication (Underdown, 2007). However, the physical, emotional and social differences that create diversity in many societies are developed out of classes generated from income levels.
Those with low levels of income tend to adapt to the same lifestyle including housing, health status, basic needs etc. On the other hand, the wealthy adapt to expensive lifestyle, and this results to the formation of social classes (Ellis, 2000). Several obstacles, threats and deficits, accrue to inherent in poverty. The poor are the ones exposed to dangerous surroundings, have unrewarding and depersonalizing duties at work, lack employment, and lack amenities and necessities of life. This results to lack of information and support, from the government.
Community Effect Analysis.
For a long time, it is known that the low-earning income groups suffer risky health conditions both physically and emotionally. Their maladaptive behaviors to life are regarded as harmful. However, analyzing their behavior critically, one may realize that they undertake some steps without any harmful intents; their behavior is more of coping than being harmful. My community background is made up of a mix of middle class and poor. This has led to some segregation in public and private facilities such as schools, hospitals, and other amenities (Underdown, 2007).
My opinion on the social, physical, and emotional effects of poverty may not be taken well by some members of my community. Holding the opinion that poverty levels create diversity among communities may seem demoralizing to the poor. My opinion may affect how I interact with some members of my community. The poor may seem to be uncomfortable interacting with me bearing in mind that they have the feeling of being alienated. However, some may take it positive and use it as a platform of airing their grievances to support agencies or the government. Most of their views are never heard or due to lack of information they never get access to government grants.
Reference.
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Ellis, F. (2000). Rural livelihoods and diversity in developing countries. Oxford [u.a.: Oxford Univ. Press.
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Greenwood, D. T., & Holt, R. P. F. (2010). Local economic development in the 21st century: Quality of life and sustainability. Armonk, N.Y: M.E. Sharpe.
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Underdown, A. (2007). Young children's health and well-being. Maidenhead (GB: Open University Press.
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