The Psychology of Poverty: Poverty, Inc. Short Documentary

            The Psychology of Poverty Name Institution                             The Psychology of Poverty Poverty, Inc. is a short documentary on why poverty has continued to be widespread in many parts in Africa despite the concerted effort to contain it. The documentary begins by quoting Machiavelli who states that “The reason there will be no change is because the people who stand to lose from change have all the power. And the people who stand to gain from change have none of the power.”             Ideally, Poverty Inc. states what most donors know but do not want to admit, that poverty only benefits those who are giving it and not those to whom it is intended. By continuing to give aid, the donors reinforce the false narrative that the developing nations are barren and that their citizens are dependent. The author of the movie Theodore Dalrymple however rejects this form of thinking and insists that the developing nations have potential but what they lack is the opportunity. In order to break from the cycle of poverty, the people therefore have to be given opportunities and not just aid.              The views that are presented in Poverty Inc. clearly outline what is presented by researchers about the psychology of poverty. One of the narratives on why poverty is almost a vicious cycle is because there is perennial scarcity in most places that make most of the poor unable to access basic ...