YOUR BRAIN ON POVERTY: WHY POOR PEOPLE SEEM TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS

And why their “bad” decisions might be more rational than you’d think

By: Derek Thompson

Published: The Atlantic; November 22, 2013; www.theatlantic.com

Level of Difficulty:**

BEFORE YOU READ

·         Do you believe that poverty affects decision making in general? If so how?

·         Read the title. What do you think the writer is refering to?

NOW CHECK OUT THE FOLLOWING
Why poor people’s decisions make sense http://live.huffingtonpost.com/r/segment/why-poor-peoples-decisions-make-sense/529379d802a7600de5000276

QUESTIONS

1.       What does “It” refer to in the phrase “It was widely seen as a counter argument”?

2.       What does the phrase “as opposed to the other way round” mean and what implication would it have?

3.       For what reasons would the person described in the example make what we would describe as poor decisions?

·         He needs to get what pleasure he can, when he can

·         He feels his prospects will never change anyway

·         He feels the way rich people do

·         All of the above

·         None of the above

·         Other: please specify

4.       Which sentence in the two highlighted paragraphs of examples in the text is the main idea for both?

5.       What reason is given for the series of bad, short term relationships in the example in the text?

6.       Which sentence best expresses the conclusion that can be drawn from the two examples?

7.       According to Kable, self control may not be the sensible path to take if………………………………

8.       Read the text to the end and state clearly which sentence(s) best express the conclusion we can draw from the whole text?

WRITING TASK

Write a paragraph discussing the cognitive effects of poverty and possible solutions to the issue.

YOUR BRAIN ON POVERTY: WHY POOR PEOPLE SEEM TO MAKE BAD DECISIONS KEY AND TEACHER’S NOTES

You would be forgiven for reading the text and immediately harking back to the common prejudices concerning decision making and poor people but you would be very wrong indeed. The attracktion of this text is that it takes a familiar problem and turns it on its head with the full backing of science. As far as I am concerned, it has also given me the opportunity to write some serious comprehension questions, which is always good. I hope you find the activity useful and interesting.

1.       The fact that poverty itself hurts our ability to make decisions about school, finances and life imposing a burden similar to losing 13 IQ points. What is required is the counterargument so that is what you provide.

2.       That poor people are to blame for bad decisions; giving cash should alleviate the cognitive burdens of poverty.

3.       Other: 1+2

4.       Poverty is bleak and cuts off your long-term brain

5.       The pull to feel worthwhile

6.       You just take what you can get as you spot it.

7.       The time frame wasn’t properly framed to begin with

8.       All the data shows that it isn’t poor people, it’s about people who happen to be in poverty. All the data suggests it is not the person; it is the context they are inhabitting.