Chapter 8

Learning Objectives 

After reading this chapter, one should be able to answer the following questions:    

1. In what ways does poverty impact opportunities in communities?  
2. What are examples of social and public welfare in response to poverty?  
3. What are three principles of effective social service programs?  
4. What is the connection between child maltreatment and intimate partner violence?  
5. What is the difference between transitional and chronic homelessness?   

Test your knowledge of this chapter with this quiz!  

Question 1

How is poverty conceptualized in community psychology?

Covert discrimination

Prejudice

A lack of money

All of the above

None

Question 2

According to the book, what are the results of research on welfare to work programs? 

Results demonstrate that such programs indeed create less dependency on welfare. 

Research results are mixed – both good and bad results, depending on the study.

Research has found that the programs function better for women than for men.

Results illustrate that such programs decrease demand for welfare or assistance. 

None

Question 3

Complete the blanks. The old homeless _________, while the new homeless _________. 

could only be found in large cities; are found in small cities and rural areas

were typically older, alcoholic or mentally disordered men; are comprised of families

were veterans of foreign wars; have never served in a war – foreign or domestic

None of the above

None

Question 4

In sum, based on information in the book, what most contributes to child maltreatment? 

Environmental conditions, such as living in poverty

Factors inherent in the child, such as spoiled personality syndrome

Characteristics of the parents, such as substance abuse

The true cause(s) of child maltreatment is/are unknown at present

None

Question 5

What factor has been identified as a primary contribution to why men are violent toward their female partners?

A history of being abused as a child

An inability to handle one’s emotions 

Stereotypical gender role adherence

A fear of intimacy

None

Question 6

What is true of successful programs to address homelessness, child maltreatment, and IPV? 

address both systems and individual needs

prioritize individual causes 

can be adequately funded with private donations

should be narrowly focused

None

Question 7

The main components that are addressed in the Duluth Model are: 

understanding why men are abusive 

understanding why some women are more at risk for IPV 

determining which laws are most effective in reducing IPV 

understanding how power and control operate in IPV

None

Question 8

What is the main relationship between domestic violence and homelessness? 

men are abusive because only after they are homeless 

being homeless causes aggression

women lose their homes rather than live with an abusive partner

there is no relationship 

None

Question 9

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) includes all except the following forms of harm: 

physical violence toward a partner.

sexual violence toward a partner. 

psychological violence toward a partner.

abuse of a partner’s children.

None

Time’s up

Study Questions 

1. There appear to be many short- and long-term consequences of poverty, in particular for children. Why do you think that poverty is such a pervasive, chronic condition in so many parts of the world? What would it take to make serious progress in erasing poverty?  
2. Violence in its many forms all seems to be interrelated (e.g. being victimized as a child may put one at risk of experiences of IPV); yet, there is often a “blaming the victim” attitude that exists in society. What are the factors that contribute to this mind-set?  
3. The most vulnerable members of our society are also often not well protected by laws and policies. Sometimes the problem may be that such laws are not enforced, or can be manipulated. Other times it may be that there is shame associated with reporting violations of laws such as child abuse. What do you think are the barriers that exist to better protecting the vulnerable members of our society? 

Additional Resources 

• Poverty 
  • Federal Poverty Level: https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/federal-poverty-level-fpl/ 
  • Muhammad Yunus: Creating a World Without Poverty: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_6nHYSgHxs 
  • Talk Poverty: https://Talkpoverty.org   
• Violence 
  • Cure Violence Global: www.cureviolence.org 
• Homelessness 
  • National Coalition for the Homeless: https://nationalhomeless.org/   
• Other 
  • Planned Parenthood: https://www.plannedparenthood.org/  
  • Administration on Aging: https://acl.gov/about-acl/administration-aging