THE SOCIAL REPRESENTATION OF POVERTY: A NAPLES P ILOT

Abstract:. In our opinion the study of poverty has to be considered essential for social psychologists today; their efforts should be devoted to obtain fast and direct social benefits. We think that the main theoretical problem is represented by the "re-definition " of the object "poverty". The pilot phase of this research is based on three separate studies carried out with different samples. The aim of the research is to get acquainted with attitudes, perceptions and the social representation of poverty. In order to get data as "pure " as possible, only children entered the study. So the obtained results will set up the basis for a wider research project. Social psychologists must face strongly the problem of poverty. Their aim has to be devoted to obtain results characterized by an immediate heuristic value and quick social effects. Nevertheless, social studies on poverty have not yet reached a realistic phase in Italy. The European Community approached the theoretical aspect seriously, and an Italian "ad hoc " committee provided appropriate data. In spite of that, the "poverty problem " has still to be defined more precisely and its psycho-social meaning better understood