http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2008-12-07-childrens-brains_N.htm
In this USA today article published in 2008 it discusses the link between Poverty and children's brain function. In class last week we discussed how poverty can be connected to other factors such as education, income, housing and so on. Indeed, we drew maps which showed the interconnectedness of all of these social factors. In our group we found that poverty affected all of these things and was the most pervasive factor in determining how people lived. Poverty is a state of being that dictates everything else in your life.
The article goes even further by suggesting that poverty affects brain function in a way similar to that of a stroke. This means that problem solving and higher level thinking is affected negatively. This difference in the pre-frontal cortex is linked to the factors that result from poverty like stress, malnutrition, and toxic environments. Researchers have found that it is possible to reverse these effects on children's brains with intensive therapy and work. However, it is hard to break children of particular behaviors that are attached to their class. In short, in the United States, it is hard to rise above the class level from which you are born. This means that a child born into poverty will most likely grow old in poverty perpetuating the negative effects of poverty on crime and education.
It's interesting to hear of the scientifically proven effects of poverty on the individual. It's funny because many people including myself, will swear that they don't care about money, however society and the effects of poverty don't really give us a choice. It seems that to live and develop a higher level of class we must care about money.
ReplyDeleteRachel Gordon
Grp 18
I found the article you posted very interesting. I have never read anything from a reliable source like USA Today asserting that information before. It's extremely unfortunate that those born into poverty face these discouraging statistics. However, now that the issue has been recognized, more action can be taken to remedy the situation. This article really emphasizes the interconnectedness of the aspects talked about in class like income, health, and education. The maps we drew in our groups may have varied, but they all demonstrated how connected all these factors are in our lives.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that poverty either directly or indirectly effects most of life's situations. Only those stricken with a fortune of luck are able to escape this trap. It's most interesting that poverty can actually effect the brain functions of children, and therefore, later adults. It's a rational finding: If a child is born and lives next to a coal plant as the parents can't afford better living conditions, the child may suffer from a permanent disability, severe or not. It's said that the highest one can reach up the social mobility latter is four spots from the level which they were born in. As an average, of course there are exceptions to this statistic. Nevertheless, poverty will persist.
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ReplyDeletei think thats every interesting. i agree with poverty will affect most of the children's brain function. and when the children grows up, they will suffer a lot. If the children live in the poor situation, they will not see the good aspect of the world. all they will do are probably complaining the world.
ReplyDeletePoverty is a chronic, mind/body condition created by the negative, effects of multiple economic risk factors. Kids from poverty are different because their brains adapt to suboptimal conditions, thus leading to poor educations, thoughts of suicide, and criminal activities. I found the article very interesting and gives excellent examples of why poverty can affect brains of younger audiences.
ReplyDeleteThe article addressed some very real concerns about children living in poverty and its effects on their well-being to include educational efforts. Poverty is a vicious cycle that presents real hurdles for anyone focused on breaking out of poverty. Various factors play a key role in the process beyond just the money issues-- factors generally beyond the child's control. These include: single parent with a low educational level, abuse and neglect factors, dangerous neighborhoods, and transience in home arrangements (i.e., moving from house to house, neighborhood to neighborhood, homelessness, foster home). The conditions they live in from the availability of food to the clothing they wear have a significant effect on how ready they are to learn. Most of us that have not experienced poverty struggle to understand the social and cultural experiences they encounter in their daily lives, but it's not really that startling to understand that if you are hungry, cold, tired, or out of sorts because of what happens at home, you can't really focus on learning to read.
ReplyDeletegood article. Financial issues can be extremely devastating to a person and their family. As you stated, its effects can be far more severe than what one might think. Money isn't everything, but it sure is a lot.
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