14 DAY TRIAL // University of British Columbia (UBC) scientists have determined in a new study that the key to moving out of poverty, or at least improving your condition, is to recognize your own value, and assert and acknowledge your own existence. The power of self-affirmation is essential to achieving this goal.
In the new study, which will appear in an upcoming issue of the journal Psychological Science, the UBC team was able to determine that poor people tend to experience a considerable increase in IQ when they remember past success and better times, which makes them more likely to engage in various programs, and to seek enrollment in aid services.
“This study shows that surprisingly simple acts of self-affirmation can improve the cognitive function and behavioral outcomes of people in poverty,” explains Jiaying Zhao, PhD, a professor at UBC and a co-author of the study. Social stigma and psychological barriers often stand in the way of progress for these individuals, PsychCentral reports.
Previous studies have demonstrated that poor people dedicate so much thought to their condition that very little so-called mental bandwidth remains to allot to education, assistance programs, trainings and time management.