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An Explanatory Model of Poverty from the Perspective of Social Psychology and Human Rights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 December 2015

Alfonso Pérez-Muñoz ,
Fernando Chacón  and
Rosario Martínez Arias
Alfonso Pérez-Muñoz*
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
Fernando Chacón
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
Rosario Martínez Arias
Affiliation:
Universidad Complutense de Madrid (Spain)
*
*Correspondence concerning this article should be addressed to Alfonso Pérez Muñoz. Facultad de Psicología de la UCM. Campus de Somosaguas. 28223. Pozuelo de Alarcón (Spain). E-mail: alfonsopm@psi.ucm.es
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Abstract

Poverty is a social problem, entailing not only an economical perspective but above all a human and social issue. Poverty is promoted, justified and maintained by unique individuals and groups by means of our own attitudes, interests and behavior, as well as with our social structures and social relationships. From this interactive, psychosocial and sociostructural perspective, and also considering poverty as a denial of basic human rights (UNDP, 1998), we carried out a study with the primary objective to design and verify an Explanatory Model of Poverty. This research may helps to increase the validity of diagnostics and the effectiveness of interventions. Most of the hypotheses were accepted during the analysis and verification of the Model (p < .001), with data fitting the Model (CFI: 1 RMSEA: .025: LO90: 0 – HI90: .061. RMR: .008). These results, if replicated in new investigations, could have the following implications: (a) the need for a broad and comprehensive definition of poverty including its effects, processes and causes; (b) the need for everybody to accept the social responsibility in the prevention and solution to poverty; and (c) the need to conduct longitudinal interventions with scientific methodology and social participation.

Keywords

social exclusionpovertyhuman rights
Type
Research Article
Information
The Spanish Journal of Psychology , Volume 18 , 2015 , E99
Copyright
Copyright © Universidad Complutense de Madrid and Colegio Oficial de Psicólogos de Madrid 2015 

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