Question

How might the different theoretical approaches described in this chapter each try to “explain” the relationship between poverty and these associated “environments” (as shown in Table 9.1)? Select two theories (from among Freud’s psychosexual theory, Erikson’s psychosocial theory, Watson’s behaviorist theory, Skinner’s behaviorist operant conditioning theory, Bandura’s social learning theory, any of the social cognitive theories of Selman, Dodge, or Dweck, or evolutionary theory), and provide a paragraph analysis of how your chosen theory(ies) might explain the relationship between poverty and its associated environments (as illustrated in Table 9.1).

Answer 1

People are the results of their environment and the type of parenting, the type of education, one’s culture, religion, workplace etc. would all determine one’s positive or negative development. Erikson’s psychosocial theory and Watson’s behaviorist theory bring out the importance of one’s positive environment starting from building trust, autonomy, industrious, finding one’s identity and remaining productive would all help an individual to make a better future. Those who do not have a favorable environment would land in failure because they themselves wold start feeling their helplessness, inferiority complex and lack of opportunities etc. explain in leading one to poverty. John. B. Watson, the founder of behaviorism boldly stated that ‘give me a dozen well formed babies and I would make them whoever you want them to become such as, doctors, engineers, teachers or even thieves’, thus, bringing out the importance of environment in one’s development.

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