> When studied experimentally, the tendency to prioritise rewards in the future rather than the present diminishes among those who feel low in power or perceive instability or uncertainty in their environment. The apparent failure of self-regulation – a trait admired in those who have it, and taught to those who don’t – is not a psychological impairment, but an adaptive response to having little actual control over one’s future.
When I was poor, I never thought I didn't have control over my future, this is likely luck on my part. I think this feeling of lack of control is way more a product of your parents and upbringing than anything else. Everyone knows stories of emigrants that made it from nothing, meanwhile others in similar conditions don't. I know plenty of rich people that don't do anything with themselves and live depressed completely absorbed in a feeling of lack of control over future, "nothing matters" nihilist bullshit too. They just started at a higher absolute value in their bank account so they don't count for the statistics but they're an even bigger drag on society because not only they don't generate anything new, they deprive others of the assets they just have lying around.
The article goes on to say that material help is way stronger than "just feel better" mindset coaching, and well, yeah - you can buy food with one and not with the other. But there's plenty of examples and literature as to why also just donating money doesn't solve the problem.
I think what solves the problem is creating conditions for good stable parenting of children. The problem is there's plenty of fucked up rich parents, so unfortunately I don't think I have a solution, but I don't think it's either just mindset changes or free money, and there's aspects missing of having a loving family who also focuses on building your character through positive role models and safety to fail. These are easier if you're not struggling to pay the bills, but surely this isn't as easy as airdropping money on everyone. I'm still positive about testing UBI though, I think it could help over several generations.
> The article goes on to say that material help is way stronger than "just feel better" mindset coaching [...] But there's plenty of examples and literature as to why also just donating money doesn't solve the problem
The article does not imply at any point that the "material solution" is the universal solution (not attempts to give one), rather than pointing the flaws of pushing those "just feel better/stop being poor" mindsets and indirectly blaming the poor for their condition.
I didn't say they did, and I agree with your interpretation of the article. I was sharing my own experience and some follow ups to these thoughts regarding parenting and UBI.
> When I was poor, I never thought I didn't have control over my future, this is likely luck on my part. I think this feeling of lack of control is way more a product of your parents and upbringing than anything else.
Yes, exactly what I am thinking (and much more succinct than my draft response).
And it follows that, while an individual may not be able easily to change their mindset, helping children grow up with a sense of agency can reduce intergenerational poverty.
As the other commenter said - you need a sense of agency with the actual agency itself.
Intergenerational poverty like mine was able to be overcome because I was given a full ride to college. I took that and rode it all the way to 7-figure jobs. But many in the US aren’t given anywhere near what I was given even if they get assistance. (Tuition waived, monthly stipend, insurance.)
I’ve already put someone else through college and can tell you that changing intergenerational poverty is an incredibly hard thing to overcome. If it wasn’t for me working with my spouse so closely for years - there’s no way she would’ve gotten anywhere near where she is now. That and I poured well north of $100k+ on her for it.
I firmly believe the overwhelming majority of people need a strong positive influence in their life. Normally this would be the parents but poor parents typically ain’t that. I’m an exception - someone who made it out without any positive influences. But I should be treated as that - an exception. (It’s why when I tell my stories they seem unbelievable and unrelatable. It’s just not like any kind of common narrative that exists.)
All demographic categories are catching up quickly to that number. The social connections between people and families are breaking, although to the least extent among the upper classes.
It would be great if we would invest in restoring communities and families but it seems there isn’t much interest in that.
> We might have to rethink the sexual revolution, but I don't expect there will be much enthusiasm for that.
This is hardly the issue... If the upper class part not being as affected by this didn't make it obvious - it's money that is the issue. And - trust me - the upper class are not prudes.
It's hardly a reach to say that the upper class has tools, among them money, that enable behaviors that are disastrous for those without those tools.
There is a bad habit among the upper class to say "we should normalize X because it's harmless" because X is harmless for _them_, and terribly dangerous for others not so fortunate.
I agree with you, except this part: "assets they just have lying around". Assets never lie around, except when you buy an apartment, don't live in it and don't even rent it. Usually the money is in investments (that make money by definition), stocks, bank accounts. All of these generate further value.
So while it is unfair that some people get a huge head start in life, it's not wasted potential for the most part.
Growing older I realized a life that is unfair but you get equal rights is actually better than trying to live in a fair society, like communism, which causes more issues than it solves. Plus, you can never be 100% fair, e.g. when do I get my check for being "less beautiful than my peers". Being at the bottom at the ladder looks-wise made it harder for me than anything else.
When I was poor, I never thought I didn't have control over my future, this is likely luck on my part. I think this feeling of lack of control is way more a product of your parents and upbringing than anything else. Everyone knows stories of emigrants that made it from nothing, meanwhile others in similar conditions don't. I know plenty of rich people that don't do anything with themselves and live depressed completely absorbed in a feeling of lack of control over future, "nothing matters" nihilist bullshit too. They just started at a higher absolute value in their bank account so they don't count for the statistics but they're an even bigger drag on society because not only they don't generate anything new, they deprive others of the assets they just have lying around.
The article goes on to say that material help is way stronger than "just feel better" mindset coaching, and well, yeah - you can buy food with one and not with the other. But there's plenty of examples and literature as to why also just donating money doesn't solve the problem.
I think what solves the problem is creating conditions for good stable parenting of children. The problem is there's plenty of fucked up rich parents, so unfortunately I don't think I have a solution, but I don't think it's either just mindset changes or free money, and there's aspects missing of having a loving family who also focuses on building your character through positive role models and safety to fail. These are easier if you're not struggling to pay the bills, but surely this isn't as easy as airdropping money on everyone. I'm still positive about testing UBI though, I think it could help over several generations.