The Process of Causal Attribution of Poverty: Preliminary Results of a Survey in Italy

Abstract

This study delves into the causal attributions for poverty and wealth, aiming to deepen our understanding of public perceptions on this complex issue. Drawing on existing literature, we categorize these attributions into three primary types: individual, structural, and mixed, each reflecting different sources of poverty or wealth. Our analysis is based on data from a comprehensive 2008 survey involving 2,000 participants across Italy. Employing Principal Component Analysis, we identified three distinct components of attributions: external, internal, and fatalistic, pertaining to the phenomena of poverty and wealth. Subsequent analyses revealed significant correlations between these attributions and various factors, including economic status (both actual and perceived), gender, educational attainment, political leanings, and media consumption patterns. These findings offer valuable insights into the multifaceted nature of how poverty and wealth are perceived, underscoring the influence of socio-demographic factors on individuals’ viewpoints.

Keywords: Attributions about Stratification, Poverty Beliefs, Poverty Explanations, Social Perception, Wealth Beliefs