A Framework for Understanding Poverty
by Ruby K. Payne, Ph.D.
Crichton College on February 6. 2009
“When you grow up in poverty, you grow-up in a foreign country. People don’t tell you that you are under a different set of rules than everyone else.”
Dr. Payne admits she has critics. (and a bad accent)
Her material is based on a 32-year case study done by Ruby Payne of a neighborhood of 50-70 people, 98% white.
Specifics of Poverty
Two kinds to identify -
Generational poverty - when it’s been that way for more than 2 generations
Situational poverty - when a death or some tragic event takes place and creates poverty.
Each demographic has their own set of unwritten/hidden rules. Poverty is painful, and one of the first things people in poverty spend their money on is entertainment - because entertainment takes away the pain of poverty. Don’t be surprised when those in poverty spend money on entertainment rather than necessities. Like if someone gave me a $1.5M Picasso painting… I’d sell it, because hey I’ve made it this long without a Picasso, why do I need it now?
Often those in poverty will laugh at discipline or hardship… simply because it is a way to deal with the pain.
Intergenerational transfer of knowledge
GP - SP - MC - NM - OM
Three generation rule
Interesting about those in generational wealth:
90% of wealthy families have lost their wealth by the 3rd generation.
First generation are the ones that make the money. They understand the value of time and effort that goes into it. The second generation has no understanding of it, so they begin to lose it. By the time a third generation arrives, statistically they can’t sustain the wealth and lose it.
Crazy Stat:
Based on a study done in Australia where they studied thousands of children and realized you could predict the 4th grade reading level of a child based upon the grandfather’s occupation.
Two things that help move someone out of poverty: Education and relationships. Surprisingly not simply money. Money doesn’t change thinking. (80-90% of those who win the lottery are in worse shape than before they won, because their thinking is the same.)
Example of Immigrants into the US (3 steps): It takes 3 generations to get college education. Often the first generation works hard in a blue collar job. The second generation often see the value of some education and will to high school. By the third generation they are equipped to head off to college. It also is worth noting that they will usually goes into teaching or government.
Situated learner.
Research on poverty can be clustered into four major areas.
Time is a huge factor in understanding poverty. Adults in poverty spend their time on: agency time, cars, family and friends, crime and safety, jobs and money, illness, housing, food, children, entertainment. These factors of time point to values in RELATIONSHIPS.
Adult in middle class spend their time on hobbies interests, education, family and friends, clubs civic groups, careers, prevention, housing and assets, retirement, children, vacations. These factors of time point to values in ACHIEVEMENTS.
Adults in upper class spend their time on oversight of corp property, charitable activities, chariable activities, media and political thinking, event sponsorship attendance, vacation, lawyers and accountants, national international advisers, board of directors, private clubs and travel. These factors of time point to values in CONNECTIONS.
Poverty USA video shown. 37% are classified in the US in poverty. 1 in 3.
Schools and businesses operate from middle class norms and values. Society has different rules for different classes. Appearance is one of them. 3 minutes in your job interviews
Hidden Rules
Individuals bring with them the hidden rules of the class in which they were raised. Hidden rules about food in America. “We were poor, but we always had enough food.” Food is also equated with love in the US. Different classes have hidden rules dealing with food. Calories in food vs. Presentation in food. What do you do in middle class when someone gets sick: You take ‘em a casserole. Rich people don’t eat casseroles. Why? Presentation and that most of the food came in there was from a can instead of being fresh. Often not expressed, but also closely related with intelligence. You’re considered stupid if you don’t know someone’s hidden rules.
How you spend your money:
Middle class - I don’t ask you for money, you don’t ask me for money. In wealth you make your decision on 3 things: political, financial and your social connections (they keep you safe & make more money). When you go to a party with extremely wealthy you don’t introduce yourself. Middle class you must or you are rude. Middle class asks you what you do? In wealth they try to establish who you know. Our Kind of People about African American wealth. In wealth you brag about where you’ve traveled and who you know. You don’t talk about the value of an object. In poverty you have the problem of no material security.
Hidden rules about time and money:
Poverty = survival, relationships, entertainment
Middle class = work, achievement, material security
Wealth = political, financial, social connections
Hidden rules about investing your children:
Middle class invest their child in education. Wealth invest their children to connections. In poverty you buy your child tangible proof / materialistic things to show others you care for your child. Money is communal in poverty. Often those with education can’t strive to get a job and money, because they often share money.
Should you give money into to poverty?
“When one side is always the giver and one side is always the taken, then there is no mutual respect and they always end up hating each other.”
Hidden rules of poverty:
Poverty noise levels are normally higher. With 12 people living in a small space, turning up the volume helps drown out things you don’t want to hear (sex).
Non-verbal communication is extremely important. Often fights break out from non verbals that were clearly communicated.
Middle class rules with jobs. Don’t quit your job until you have another one already lined up. In poverty, you quit and burn your bridge before you leave just b/c you don’t like your boss.
In poverty: Your value to your group is your ability to entertain. It takes away the pain. A sense of humor makes you human.
You are not going to be respected in poverty until you are tested and proven tough. You won’t survive unless proven tough. Showing fear means you’re finished.
Use nonverbal to convey critical information.
5. Biochemical issues in poverty: DSM4 - the Bible of mental health tells that your brain doesn’t make the necessary chemicals to be healthy. In generational poverty you don’t have access to proper medical supplies. Often self medication is more widely accepted because it’s cheaper and often entertaining.
Hidden rules of wealth:
New money is the most competitive place in the world. Money without connections is the most competitive place in the world. Middle class does not understand this. Extreme pressure on children growing up in this situation.
It’s not okay not to be perfect. What’s understood is, “at first you don’t succeed, you will.” Many people don’t understand that Barbara Bush had a 40 year plan to get her son to be president.
Details make or break you. One detail in a legal document will transfer your assets to someone else. One detail in an antique piece of furniture will make or break it’s value. The idea of sending a document to the board with typos. Obvious mistakes he didn’t catch.
Time is more important than money. You can always make more money, but you can’t make more time. When working with super wealthy, be cautious of time.
If you don’t have money or connections, than you will be respected for expertise or talent.
Weapon of choice in wealth is social exclusion. Poverty is violence. Middle class it’s isolation, in wealth it is exclusion
We can neither excuse nor scold students. We must teach our students.
To move from poverty to middle class, one must give up (for a period of time) relationships for achievement. Who is at your back? Who is holding you back? Often these are the same people.
Recommend you use a flip video to record interviews with those that have gone through your program and how it changed their relationships.
Poverty is about fear and scarcity. In your mind this creates a polarity of thought. In your mind you can either buy this or that? You can have either an A or an F. Explain to him, “Your mind is a tool or weapon and no one can take that away from you.” Bottom line is that
“No significant learning occurs without a significant relationship.” James Comer. Often the way middle and upper class tries to get people out of poverty is horribly wrong because it does not involve a relationship. With relationships it will often take two years to convert someone out of poverty. That relationship is vital.
No matter what language you speak, there is the five registers:
Frozen - lords prayer, wedding vows
Formal - standard sentences syntax and word choices of work and school.
Consultative - formal register when used in conversation. Discourse patterns not quite as formal register.
Casual - language b/t friends. General not specific, dependent on nonverbal assists.
Intimate - b/t lovers or twins.
Research about language in children from age one to three years old in stable households by economic group. Rules in middle class: Job interview first few minutes should be spoken in formal. It’s acceptable to move one level, but you have to have the skill to speak in each. A lot of kids get kicked out of school for being in the wrong register. This shows up in the work place. Usually from speaking out of casual or intimate registers. You have to have the tool to survive your environment. 70% of people in prison come out of poverty. When you don’t have formal register, you don’t have the tools to resolve the conflict.
Poverty is a sensory bases environment. You have to pay attention to the sensory - some say they are so attuned, “they can smell when danger.” But sadly the world of middle and upper class is a knowledge based environment.
If an individual cannot identify cause and effect, he/she cannot identify consequences.
If an individual cannot identify consequence he cannot control impulsively
If an individual cannot control impulsivity, he has an inclination towards criminal behavior.
Often in poverty people believe in fate. “He’s no good, just like his daddy.” “If God wants me to get pregnant, then I will.” Often people will feel like life has given them bad luck instead of seeing their situation as a result of previous actions.
Teaching vs. Learning
When we teach does it go inside the head? Not always.
You can remediate the mind.
Mediate: What is the identification of the stimulus? Why the assignment of meaning? How to identify a strategy? Cause and effect is essential. Specificity is also vital. Instead of just, “get that!” you hear, “please pick up that fork.”
What - Don’t cross the street without looking
Why - You might get run over by a car.
How - Look both ways before crossing the street.
LUNCH BREAK
Input:
Quality and quantity of data gathered
Use planning behaviors
Focus perceptions on specifics stimulus
Control impulsivity
Explore data systematically
Use appropriate and accurate labels
Organize space using stable systems of reference
Orient data in time
Identify constancies across variations
Gather precise and accurate data
Consider two sources of information at once
Organize data (parts of a whole).
Visually translate data.
Teaching children to cope with their stress or emotions by looking up. Principal who stands up when in a conference with a parent that is upset. It causes them to look up and thus relax.
Resources - which of the following did I have growing up?
Financial - $$$
Emotional - able to choose and control emotional responses
Mental - abilities and acquired skills to deal with life
Spiritual - believing in divine purpose and guidance; has a future story
Physical - physical health and mobility
Support Systems - having friends, family, and backup resources available to access in times of need. These are external resources.
Relationship/Role Models - frequent access to adults who are appropriate, nurturing, and who do not engage in destructive behavior.
Knowledge of Hidden Rules - knowing the unspoken cues and habits of a group.
To better understand people from poverty, the definition of poverty will be: “the extent to which an individual does without resources.”
Interventions will not work if they are based on a resource that does not exist.
Social capital
Bonding capital - the people who help you get by
Bridging capital - the people who help you get ahead
Shows the video of Million Dollar Baby
Before an intervention you need to understand what capital they have and want to work towards. An intervention will work only if the individual sees they need the assistance. Careful filling a need they don’t see they have or want to have filled.
Voices
Parents (telling) - you should not do that, it’s wrong to…, that’s stupid, immature, you’re good, bad, worthless, beautiful
Child (whining) - quit picking on me, you don’t love me, I hate you, you’re ugly, it’s your fault, you made me do it
Adult (asking) - I need…, what’s your plan?, what are your choices?, if you did know, what would you say?
These are essential in communicating. When you only have two voices: parent (negative) and child, then everything is always about power and control. You can not resolve an issue without the adult voice.
Video: Breakfast Club
Reframing things for children or those in poverty is essential. “It takes more strength to stay out of a fight than it does to get into a fight.”
“Why would you want energy without focus?” Phil Jackson about why MJ did not retaliate when intentionally fouled in a pressure situation.
BREAK
Family Structure - how to we live with people and still keep our individual identity
Family structure and it’s relationship to discipline
Understanding of cooperation, completion, trust and authority
Development of role and gender identity
Development of relationships
History of family structure: community family to extended family to nuclear family to single-parent home
(1910 laws changed so children can’t go to work with parents anymore.)
Patterns in generational poverty
Common law is being wiped out in a lot of states.
It is common law, it is multiple relationship and it is single parent.
“If you want to break a culture, take away the work from men. It will cause them to lose identity.” - James Joyce Wilson.
Lots of free time, part time provider. When you’re a fighter or a lover, there are periods of time you have to disappear because people are looking for you. Either the cops or past lovers.
Hidden Rule in Poverty: When one person leaves, you find another to replace them. Why? Because people are your resources and your way to survive. This is not a moral issue as often seen by middle class.
Key questions for parental structure:
Who is available and has the time to teach the child? To help the child with schoolwork? To provide emotional support? To develop resources in the child?
When there is work, there is a role identity. I am a ____________________.
Where there is not work, over time they only identity one has become gender identity. I am a real man; I am a real woman. Proof of who you are is sexual activity.
Clips shown from a movie called, The 51st State. Born with a Wooden Spoon. (based on poverty across the US)
Where do you get your future story? (these three present teenage pregnancy more than anything else)
Role identity - what’s a real man? What’s a real woman? What do they do?
Through relationships with adults
Role models
Tipping points in community. It takes 20-25 years until it hits the radar. It needs 30-35% involvement until it hits the tipping point. Often a community with a large proportion of poverty will break the tipping point since a disproportionate percentage of it’s resources will go to the needs of those in poverty.