The Perception of Social Conditions and Its Impact on the Inclusion Processes of People in Extreme Poverty and Social Exclusion

Abstract

The chapter aims to reflect on cognitive processes linked to situations of extreme poverty or social exclusion. The method used is quantitative. Investigations developed in Nicaragua and Spain were used. Cognitive schemes, attributions, stereotypes or meta-stereotypes seem to function as cognitions that, due to their characteristics, may have a very relevant impact on the inclusion processes of the most disadvantaged groups. It was identified that the attributions carried out on the main causes of poverty refer mainly to individual factors and fatality, with few attributions to structural social causes.