People Hold Strong Prejudices Against the Poor, Study Shows

THE PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER 
By Alfred Lubrano

PHILANTHROPY---Many Americans disdain the poor - and science proves it. When people were placed in neuroimaging machines and shown photos of the poor and homeless, their brains responded as though the photos depicted things, not humans - a sign of revulsion. Antipoverty types cite as evidence the ubiquitous calls from state and federal officials to cut food stamps and energy assistance; eliminate or reduce General Assistance, Social Security, Medicaid, Head Start, and welfare; fingerprint anyone receiving benefits; and so on. "Americans react to the poor with disgust," said Susan Fiske, professor of psychology and public affairs at Princeton University and the designer of the neuroimaging tests. She has studied attitudes toward the poor for 12 years. "It's the most negative prejudice people report," greater even than racism, Fiske said. [link]