Lack of education, bad choices, like doing drugs and under-employment/unemployment are the three main factors of poverty in the U.S. I think because of low-wage jobs and lack of education/not being able to pay for university people make bad choices or believe the choices they made were the only way for them to survive, make a living, get through their situation, or escape from it.
This is similar to the symptom of schizophrenia called inappropriate affect. An inappropriate effect is an emotional expression that is inadequate or inharmonious with the situation or the event that is taking place, due to its intensity or quality. In Tourette disorder, the person cannot regulate this symptom despite being aware of the inappropriateness of his message and behavior.
I hope my answer can help you.
