Social psychology of Making Poverty History: Motivating anti‐poverty action in Australia

The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) represent the first global, tractable effort to combat world poverty and preventable disease. The success of the MDGs, however, depends critically upon the support of the people who do not themselves experience the disadvantage: That is, the people and governments of developed countries. In this paper it is argued that the solution to combating poverty and preventable disease in developing nations lies in creating sufficient political will among people in developed countries such as Australia. The authors draw on social psychological insights to explore ways to inspire social and political action in support of the anti‐poverty cause. Taking a social identity perspective, the role is reviewed of three key variables in promoting anti‐poverty action: (a) the presence of meaningful social identities that prescribe action, (b) motivating group emotions, and (c) group efficacy beliefs. A method is described that crystallises these three elements to boost commitment to the anti‐poverty cause. The paper concludes by arguing for the importance of meaningful group memberships in motivating social and political action to make poverty history for people in developing countries.     

Poverty and HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa: Implications for Psychological Well-being

The study examines the literature on poverty and HIV/AIDS in an effort to explore the various psychological resources available for affected individuals. Poverty is an increased risk for HIV and AIDS for a majority of the citizens of sub-Saharan Africa, and also lowered their subjective well-being. Furthermore, research evidence revealed that the relationship between poverty and subjective well-being is mediated by the intervention of such psychological variables as locus of control, self esteem, depression and coping strategies among others. Psychological resources for positive well-being that could ameliorate the potentially devastating combined effects of HIV and poverty are suggested.     

Cross-cultural differences in colour vision: Acquired ‘colour-blindness’ in Africa

We report a study of the incidence of ‘colour-blindness’ in southern and central Africa, and we compare the African data with data from various European groups. There was a surprisingly high incidence of tritan errors (yellow–blue defect). The likelihood of making tritan errors increased with age, and was greater in rural areas than in towns. In Europe, no tritan errors were made by samples from the U.K., Eire or Spain, but some tritan errors were made by a sample from southern Greece. In contrast, most of a British sample of people over sixty-five years old makes tritan errors. Although tritan errors were the most frequent, they were often accompanied by protan and deutan errors. This mixed pattern of errors is consistent with the condition being acquired rather than congenital. Many languages of southern Africa categorise blues and greens with the same term. If the tritanopia we report has been endemic, it may have reduced the ‘perceptual pressure’ to split the blue-with-green categories into separate blue and green terms; a speculation consistent with Rivers, W. H. R. (1901. Introduction to A. C. Haddon (Ed.), Reports on the Cambridge Anthropological Expedition to the Torres Straits. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) © 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved..     

The Impact of Poverty on Women's Psychosocial Well-being: Narratives from Zimbabwean Migrant Women in South Africa

The study investigated the psychosocial impact poverty has had on Zimbabwean migrant women. The sample comprised 7 female participants (3 professional teachers and 4 informal traders) who had migrated to South Africa because of poverty. Their age ranged from 16 to 55 years. In-depth interviews were conducted using an interview guide. Thematic analysis was used to analyse the data. The migrant women's health and well-being were compromised from poverty related experiences while sojourners.     

Behavioral Health Adjustment in Reserve Component Soldiers During a Noncombat Deployment to Africa

This study benchmarked rates of mental health problems, adjustment difficulties, and perceptions of unit climate among 505 U.S. soldiers (primarily National Guard) deployed to the Horn of Africa in 2012. In addition, the study examined whether differences across these outcomes exist between combat veterans (n = 239) and noncombat veterans (n = 242). Rates of mental health problems among soldiers on this noncombat deployment were lower than rates typically found among soldiers on combat deployments. Furthermore, soldiers without previous combat experience had lower rates of mental health problems and aggression than combat veterans. Similar differences were evident when adjustment difficulties and unit climate variables were compared. Although combat veterans could be valuable in training new soldiers, the results of this study indicate that combat veterans may need more targeted resources to facilitate their adjustment if they are to be optimally utilized.     

艾滋病、非洲与国际援助

艾滋病的流行不仅严重地影响了人类的健康,而且对社会经济等诸多方面都产生了不利的影响。从艾滋病在全球流行的基本状况入手,指出艾滋病对流行地区,尤其是撒哈拉以南非洲社会经济等方面的影响程度,并结合该地区多数国家经济发展水平落后和发达国家对外援助的现实状况,提出加大国际援助非洲控制艾滋病的紧迫性。     

Reaction Paper: The Challenge of the Psychology of Poverty in Africa

The content of this abstract is a reaction to the various articles appearing in this special section of the Journal of Psychology in Africa with a focus on the Psychology of Poverty in African countries. The articles deal with the psychology of poverty from different perspectives, as they impact on African children, men and women. Some of the topics covered are focussed on poverty and education, poverty and employment, poverty and marital relationship, poverty in relationship to men and women who are friends on intimate basis. What is clear from the various presentations is that poverty is obviously affecting Africans adversely and presents a serious challenge to men and women. Such a serious challenge must be addressed by all those concerned so that Africans can lead a better life than that which they have been sentenced by poverty.     

随机控制实验:助推脱贫的现场干预研究

消除贫困是全世界新千年的首要目标。行为经济学家和发展经济学家正借助随机控制实验和助推技术在全球范围内帮助贫困者摆脱贫困。当前采用随机控制实验帮助贫困者克服行为偏差的助推行动主要表现在帮助贫困者改善当前物质条件和提升未来保障两个方面。随机控制实验和助推技术在国内的研究和实践也有效地帮助国内贫困农民提高了身心健康水平和经济收入。未来还需加强关于随机控制实验和助推技术的外部效度检验及两者的异同点方面的研究, 并结合脱贫的内生动力制定更加简单、高效、严谨的扶贫政策和项目。     

The feminization of psychology: data from South Africa

In many countries, women outnumber men in psychology, both as students and as professionals. Much of this information is drawn from Europe and the USA, and the information available about the situation in developing countries is a lot less detailed. The steady increase in the presence of women in psychology in South Africa is examined, via access to two large national databases and telephone interviews. These sources are the most reliable available, and are comprehensive enough to give a very good snapshot of women in psychology in this country over the last 12 years. The data indicate that psychology as a profession in South Africa is dominated by women. Although the applied practical aspects of the discipline attract women disproportionally, women are also over-represented in research psychology and academia (except at the professorial level). The racial composition of the profession remains skewed, with white psychologists in the majority. Although the data in this regard are incomplete, approximately 5% of registered psychologists are black. An examination of student enrolments suggests that this situation will continue in future, as women (and white students) enrol in much greater numbers for both undergraduate and postgraduate degrees. In 2002, 74% of psychology majors were women, and 78% of all Master's degrees in psychology were awarded to women. Thus it would appear that the feminization of psychology in this country is further advanced than in Europe and the USA. It is not a question of men abandoning the profession, but rather that women entered the profession at a much higher rate in recent years.     

Shared and unique predictors of antisocial and substance use behavior among a nationally representative sample of South African youth

There are well-documented high prevalence rates of violence, aggression, and substance use in South Africa. We examined theoretically salient risk factors for antisocial behavior and substance use identified in high income countries (e.g., abuse and poverty; Shaw & Gross, 2008) and whether they had predictive effects among South African youth, for whom longitudinal research examining predictors of violence is lacking. We collected data from a large, high-risk longitudinal sample of youth from two provinces in South Africa, encompassing rural and urban sites (N = 3515; 97% retained at one year; 56.7% female; M age = 13.45). We assessed antisocial behavior and substance use using an adapted version of the CBCL-YSR and items from national surveys. Finally, we assessed risk factors using previously-validated indices of risk. Antisocial behavior and substance use were reciprocally related over time. Controlling for this overlap, as well as for relevant demographic covariates, child abuse predicted increases in antisocial behavior over time, and exposure to high levels of community violence predicted increases in both antisocial behavior and substance use one year later. The findings suggest that contextual risk factors underpinning etiological models of antisocial behavior and substance in high income countries are also relevant within the South African context. In particular, both harsh home and community environments were related to the development of youth antisocial and substance use behavior outcomes. We discuss the implications of these findings for preventative interventions to reduce youth engagement in risky antisocial and/or substance use behavior in South Africa.     

An Investigation of Quality of Life of the Elderly in South Africa, with Specific Reference to Mpumalanga Province

This paper is based on a research study that investigated the quality of life of elderly persons (aged 60 years and over) in South Africa in the wake of population aging, HIV/AIDS, the process of modernization which ushered in new challenges and the legacy of apartheid. A combination of all these factors among others has played a major role in lowering the quality of life of senior citizens in South Africa. For effective measurement purposes, a conceptual framework of broad categories of quality of life indicators for this proportion of the population are identified as: household structure, social inclusion, care of older persons and care burden on the elderly. Under these broad categories we investigate such specific indicators as: general health; satisfaction with basic needs of food, clothing and housing; emotional well-being; and their environmental harmony regarding access to amenities of transport, sanitation, safe water and security. The influence of socio-demographic factors on the above indicators is also examined. The long term goal of the study is to provide guidance for more creative policies including strategies of poverty reduction, housing older people in a dignified way and providing a wide range of options that facilitate healthy aging, in so doing, catering for the best interests and needs of senior citizens in South Africa. A representative sample of size 900 randomly selected elderly persons in Mpumalanga Province, South Africa is used. Structured interviews and direct observation are used to collect data, and bivariate statistical analyses performed.     

Explosive Population Growth in Tropical Africa: Crucial Omission in Development Forecasts—Emerging Risks and Way Out

Our article draws attention to a crucial factor frequently omitted from the global development agenda, namely the explosive population growth inevitably expected in Tropical Africa in the nearest decades as a result of the region's laggardness in fertility transition. Population doubling (or even tripling) in the next decades can seriously undermine the development prospects of Tropical African countries and lead to sociopolitical destabilization or even large-scale violent conflicts with possibly global consequences. Bringing down the population growth rates (mainly through substantially reducing the fertility rates) appears to be crucial for the achievement of the 1977 “Goals for Mankind,” as well as the Millennium Development Goals, and, as we proceed to show, can be most effectively achieved through substantially increasing female secondary education, which, in turn, should be achieved by introducing compulsory secondary education and making it the first-rate development priority.     

The UN activities of the International Union of Psychological Science in 2001

The major thrust of the IUPsyS activities at the UN this year has been the establishment, in early 2001, of a permanent team of New York area psychologists willing to voluntarily represent the Union at the different meetings held throughout the year at the UN Secretariat in New York under the auspices of the UN Department of Public Information, the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), as well as some of the other UN agencies also active in New York, such as UNICEF and UNESCO. With the help of the International Affairs Office of the American Psychological Association, which we would like to thank, we had access to the names of New York area psychologists who were interested in doing UN representation for psychology. Four of them were identified as prime candidates and were interviewed. Their nomination as UN/NGO representatives was approved by the Executive Committee of the Union. I am very happy to inform our national members and affiliate organizations that Dr. Fritz Galette, Dr. Margarita Garcia‐Estevez, Dr. Douglas Y Seiden and Ms. Carolee E. Iltis have generously accepted to act as the Union's NGO representatives in New York. The decision to appoint four representatives was determined by the workload associated with the activities of the UN Secretariat (e.g., Dept of Public Information ‐NGO Briefings every week, multiple meetings of numerous committees dealing with mental health, health, ageing, children, human rights, women issues), plus numerous Preparatory Committees for General Assembly Summits (presently, three upcoming summits on racism, children and women that we will briefly discuss later in this report). Therefore, we felt it was important to be realistic and to appoint several individuals who are ready to share the work to be done and provide 1–2 days per month of their time.     

Predictors of Self-Appraised Health Status in Sub-Saharan Africa: The Case of Ghana

Whereas determinants of self-assessed health status -subjective health are well scrutinized in developed countries, little is known about factors influencing how people appraise their own health in Sub-Sahara Africa. In the context of increasing burden of care due to high incidence of chronic diseases, poverty and social transformation this paper explores the predictors of self-appraised health status in Ghana. Using 2005–2008 wave of the World Values Survey, the authors employ parametric and ordered logistic regression techniques to assess the relative effect of economic, cultural, social capital, geographic, and demographic factors in molding subjective health among Ghanaians. The study reveals that cultural background has independent significant effect on subjective health over and above individual characteristics. The relative importance of cultural background in shaping subjective health is more significant and salient for Ewes compared to Akans. Income, age and satisfaction with life are noncultural variables that consistently emerged as predictors of subjective health among the respondents. Policy implications of the study are discussed echoing the need to adopt multidimensional approach to improving overall health paying attention to cultural background in the country. It is also suggested that more studies into the interplay between cultural background and social capital variables and subjective health are needed to untangle the rationale behind the association between culture and social capital and health status in the country. Future areas of research are also alluded to.     

Multidimensional disadvantages and educational aspirations of marginalised migrant youth: insights from the Global South

ABSTRACT

This article provides a Global South perspective on marginalised migrant youth and higher educational aspirations, with a specific focus on South Africa. We use data from a case study in Johannesburg to illustrate how marginalised migrant youth experience particular forms of disadvantage in their endeavours to realise their educational aspirations. Yet, educational opportunities and the achievement of educational aspirations may enhance dimensions important for individual wellbeing. Through education, marginalised migrant youth become better positioned to pursue what they have reason to value, including escaping poverty in both their home and host countries. Using the human development and capability lens, the paper also presents what the disadvantages experienced by marginalised migrant youth may mean for human development. We argue that constrained educational aspirations can result in corrosive disadvantage and ultimately systemic poverty. We conclude the paper by highlighting how the capability approach (CA) could be used to inform social and educational policies in contexts of marginalisation.     

Developments in the Measurement of Subjective Well-Being and Poverty: An Economic Perspective

Drawing on unique survey data for rural Pakistan, we estimate a happiness model to explore to what extent an economic perspective adds to our understanding of subjective wellbeing poverty. The data elicits information on subjective well-being in general and particularly on financial well-being in terms of household’s happiness with the current income or expenditure. We find that the well-being approach closely depicts the idea of well-being poverty in terms of the level education, health and income which matter significantly. Moreover unlike developed nations this study suggests a positive impact of children on well-being and poverty due to their productive contribution. As studies employing good data from developing countries are rare, this paper can potentially make a good contribution to the existing happiness literature, with special reference to Pakistan. Secondly, it brings new and strong empirical evidence to alternative approaches to subjective well-being poverty.     

Structural Violence Effects on the Educational Life Chances of Children from Low Income Families in KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

The aim of the study was to explore the structural conditions and social formations that mediate access to quality education amongst low income children in KwaZulu-Natal. Structural violence can lead to injustices to children such as the experience of hunger, disease, poverty and poor quality of education. A total of 117 students (male = 59; female = 58; age range 8 to 18 years) were drawn from three high schools, five primary schools and a special school in a district of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The study captured the voices of participants through individual interviews and focus group interviews. Data were analyzed thematically. Systemic structural conditions in society such as poverty, lack of resources in schools, poor infrastructure in communities, poorly trained teachers, lack of accountability created barriers to educational access for children from poor backgrounds.     

Representations of Poverty in British Newspapers: A Case of ‘Othering’ the Threat?

The meanings of social problems like poverty develop within the public sphere. This paper uses the theory of social representations to examine how poverty is represented in British newspapers. Poverty has been discussed and interpreted in numerous ways, and newspapers not only provide a platform for these elaborations but also contribute to shaping public understanding on the issue. The study sampled news coverage on poverty in four British newspapers during two randomly chosen one‐month periods in the years 2001 and 2011. The data set of news reports (n = 274) was thematically analysed to examine representations of poverty. The study found that in the domestic context, media represents poverty as a problem limited to vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly. With a lack of discussion on the wider socio‐economic causes and contributing factors, poverty within the UK appears as an ‘orphan phenomenon’ with an unknown genesis. In contrast, the representations of poverty outside the UK are vivid and elaborate, and the news reports hold the socio‐political inefficiency of countries responsible for poverty. The study also found that the media uses poverty to make sense of catastrophic events in society: the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States and the London riots of 2011 were both anchored using poverty. This paper discusses the representational dynamics of these findings and argues that the media representations distance general society from poverty, representing it as a problem of the other. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.