EXPOSURE TO PANHANDLING AND BELIEFS ABOUT POVERTY CAUSATION

A sample of low-income whites from Baltimore is used to examine: (1) whether exposure to panhandling impacts on belief's about the causes of poverty, and, (2) whether exposure to panhandling is patterned by socio-demographic characteristics. Findings indicate that frequency of exposure to panhandling, but not location of exposure to panhandling, predicts causal beliefs. The more respondent's are panhandled, the more likely they are to regard poverty as a function of personal choice. For Baltimore respondents, more frequent contact with panhandlers serves to create negative and unsympathetic attitudes towards their economic plight. In addition, females regardless of age are most likely to be panhandled.