Helping people escape the grip of poverty requires more than monetary assistance, according to a new report. Find your marbles. Catherine Thomas, an assistant professor of psychology and of organizational studies at the University of Michigan, was the study’s lead author. The research suggests that anti-poverty initiatives in the United States should focus on understanding the goals and mental frameworks of low-income individuals receiving aid.
The study, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, highlights the importance of culturally sensitive psychosocial interventions. These interventions, informed by local understandings of agency, have been shown to successfully improve women’s economic empowerment in Niger. Psychological approaches that had been developed in Western contexts were proven failures in this setting.
Thomas and her co-authors—Patrick Premand, Thomas Bossuroy, Soumaila Abdoulaye Sambo, Hazel Rose Markus, and Gregory Walton—conducted three separate studies to explore the nuances of poverty alleviation. As their research shows, this represents an important difference between models of agency embedded in diverse cultural contexts. In Niger, people’s sense of agency is intimately connected to personal relationships and community expectations. In contrast, Western cultures have a tendency to focus on personal motivation, self-starting, and future-focused goals.
Broadly, the research sought to measure just how effective a “culturally wise” intervention could be. Specifically, it tested this approach against a well-established Western psychological intervention and a control condition. Findings showed that of the four approaches only the culturally tailored approach led to significant improvements in women’s economic empowerment in Niger. This surprising outcome illustrates an important truth. Too many standard poverty-fighting efforts begin and end with the basics—food, clothing and shelter. Yet most of them overlook the value of tackling cultural context head on.
Their findings poke holes into the idea that psychological theories and interventions developed in WEIRD societies are widely applicable. This begs a reconsideration of their applicability across different cultural paradigms. The authors contend these models may therefore be ineffective at shifting behavior. They worry that they will not succeed enough in improving quality of life in different cultural contexts.
This takeaway from our research highlights that understanding local models of agency is key. It can lead to better, more effective anti-poverty strategies. By recognizing the interdependent nature of relationships and community values in places like Niger, policymakers and practitioners can design interventions that resonate more deeply with those they aim to help.