Poverty, Middle Class and

Wealth Perspectives
Ruby Payne
 Hidden Rules Among Classes

MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH

POVERTY
POSSESSIONS People. Things. One-of -a-kind objects, legacies,
pedigrees.

MONEY To be used, spent. To be managed. To be conserved, invested.

PERSONALITY Is for entertainment. Sense of humor Is for acquisition and stability. Is for connections. Financial, political,
is highly valued. Achievement is highly valued. social connections are highly valued.

SOCIAL EMPHASIS Social inclusion of people he/she Emphasis is on self-governance and Emphasis is on social exclusion.
likes. self-sufficiency.

FOOD Key question: Did you have enough? Key question: Did you like it? Key question: Was it presented well?
Quantity important. Quality Important. Presentation important.

CLOTHING Clothing valued for individual style Clothing valued for its quality and Clothing valued for its artistic sense
and expression of personality. acceptance into norm of middle class. and expression. Designer important.
Label important.

TIME Present most important. Decisions Future most important. Decisions Traditions and history, most
made for moment based on feelings made against future ramifications; important. Decisions made partially
or survival. on basis of tradition and decorum.

EDUCATION Valued and revered as abstract but Crucial for climbing success ladder Necessary tradition for making and
not as reality. and making money. maintaining connections.

DESTINY Believes in fate. Cannot do much to Believes in choice. Can change future Noblesse oblige.
mitigate chance. with good choices now.

LANGUAGE Casual register. Language is about Formal register. Language is about Formal register. Language is about
survival. negotiation. networking.

FAMILY STRUCTURE Tends to be matriarchal. Tends to be patriarchal. Depends on who has money.
WORLD VIEW Sees world in terms of local setting. Sees world in terms of national Sees world in terms of international
setting. setting.

LOVE Love and acceptance conditional Love and acceptance conditional and Love and acceptance conditional and
based upon whether individual is based largely upon achievement. related to social standing and
liked. connections.

DRIVING FORCES Survival, relationships, entertainment. Work, achievement. Financial, political, social
connections.

HUMOR About people and sex. About situations. About social faux pas.
Hidden Rules Among Classes

MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH

POVERTY

POSSESSIONS People. Things. One-of -a-kind objects, legacies,

pedigrees.

MONEY To be used, spent. To be managed. To be conserved, invested.

PERSONALITY Is for entertainment. Sense of humor Is for acquisition and stability. Is for connections. Financial, political,
is highly valued. Achievement is highly valued. social connections are highly valued.

SOCIAL EMPHASIS Social inclusion of people he/she Emphasis is on self-governance and Emphasis is on social exclusion.
likes. self-sufficiency.

FOOD Key question: Did you have enough? Key question: Did you like it? Key question: Was it presented well?
Quantity important. Quality Important. Presentation important.

CLOTHING Clothing valued for individual style Clothing valued for its quality and Clothing valued for its artistic sense
and expression of personality. acceptance into norm of middle class. and expression. Designer important.
Label important.

TIME Present most important. Decisions Future most important. Decisions Traditions and history, most
made for moment based on feelings made against future ramifications; important. Decisions made partially
or survival. on basis of tradition and decorum.

EDUCATION Valued and revered as abstract but Crucial for climbing success ladder Necessary tradition for making and
not as reality. and making money. maintaining connections.
Hidden Rules Among Classes

MIDDLE CLASS WEALTH

POVERTY

DESTINY Believes in fate. Cannot do much to Believes in choice. Can change future Noblesse oblige.
mitigate chance. with good choices now.

LANGUAGE Casual register. Language is about Formal register. Language is about Formal register. Language is about
survival. negotiation. networking.

FAMILY STRUCTURE Tends to be matriarchal. Tends to be patriarchal. Depends on who has money.

WORLD VIEW Sees world in terms of local setting Sees world in terms of notional Sees world in terms of international
setting. view.

LOVE Love and acceptance conditional Love and acceptance conditional and Love and acceptance conditional and
based upon whether individual is based largely upon achievement. related to social standing and
liked. connections.

DRIVING FORCES Survival, relationships, entertainment. Work, achievement. Financial, political, social
connections.

HUMOR About people and sex. About situations. About social faux pas.

Source:
Ruby Payne, A Framework for Understanding Poverty, Highlands, TX: aha!
Process, Inc., 1996 pp. 42 - 43
 Source
Ruby Payne
A Framework for Understanding Poverty
Highlands, TX: aha! Process, Inc., 1996
pp. 42 - 43