Skidmore College Creative Matter Sociology Senior Seminar Papers Sociology 5-2019 A Silver Lining: The Role of Optimism in Overcoming Poverty in Early Life Mary Brimmer Skidmore College,
[email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://creativematter.skidmore.edu/socio_stu_stu_schol Part of the Inequality and Stratification Commons Recommended Citation Brimmer, Mary, "A Silver Lining: The Role of Optimism in Overcoming Poverty in Early Life" (2019). Sociology Senior Seminar Papers. 15. https://creativematter.skidmore.edu/socio_stu_stu_schol/15 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Sociology at Creative Matter. It has been accepted for inclusion in Sociology Senior Seminar Papers by an authorized administrator of Creative Matter. For more information, please contact
[email protected]. Running Head = A SILVER LINING A Silver Lining: The Role of Optimism in Overcoming Poverty in Early Life* Mary M. Brimmer Skidmore College Word Count = 9,354 *Please direct all correspondence to Mary M. Brimmer, 815 N. Broadway, Mailbox 87, Saratoga Springs, NY 12866. Email:
[email protected]. The author would like to acknowledge and thank professors Catherine Berheide and Andrew Lindner, the entire Sociology Department, the staff of the Lucy Scribner Library, and her fellow peers, friends, family and mentors for their ongoing support. A SILVER LINING 2 A Silver Lining: The Role of Optimism in Overcoming Early Life Poverty ABSTRACT Who is able to overcome adversity and experience upward mobility? Using cumulative inequality theory, which posits that the disadvantage or advantage associated with one’s social location impacts life trajectory and perceptions of such, I propose that level of optimistic outlook in individuals from low-income backgrounds increases their chances of financial success in adulthood.