Poverty's Impact on Decision-Making and Systemic Issues Highlighted by Katriona O'Sullivan
Katriona O'Sullivan, drawing on both personal experience and academic knowledge, argues that poverty significantly shapes decision-making, often leading to choices that appear irrational to those not experiencing deprivation. She challenges the notion that poor choices are solely a result of individual failings, asserting that systemic issues create and maintain poverty by denying people security, support, and genuine options. O'Sullivan explains that stress, a constant companion of poverty, makes long-term planning difficult, pushing individuals to focus on immediate needs rather than future benefits, such as buying a toothbrush. She recounts her own experiences, including choosing cheap alcohol over sanitary products, to illustrate how deprivation, stress, and hopelessness influence behavior and brain development, making it harder to prioritize long-term well-being. 
