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Psychological Agency: Evidence from the Urban Fringe of Bamako

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  • Klein, Elise

Abstract

A deficit in the theorisation of psychological elements of agency and empowerment in development literature exists. To address, I present the results of an empirical study using exploratory mixed methods examining central factors contributing to initiatives people undertake to improve personal and collective well-being in a neighborhood on the urban fringe of Bamako. Informants articulated that the psychological concepts of dusu (internal motivation) and ka da I yèrè la (self-belief) were most important to their purposeful agency. The psychological constructs had an intrinsic and instrumental value to respondents from differing socio-economic characteristics which contributed to social change in the neighborhood.

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  • Klein, Elise, 2014. "Psychological Agency: Evidence from the Urban Fringe of Bamako," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 64(C), pages 642-653.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:64:y:2014:i:c:p:642-653
    DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2014.07.001
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    4. Maiorano, Diego & Shrimankar, Dishil & Thapar-Björkert, Suruchi & Blomkvist, Hans, 2021. "Measuring empowerment: Choices, values and norms," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 138(C).
    5. Huis, Marloes & Lensink, Robert & Vu, Nhung & Hansen, Nina, 2019. "Impacts of the Gender and Entrepreneurship Together Ahead (GET Ahead) training on empowerment of female microfinance borrowers in Northern Vietnam," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 120(C), pages 46-61.
    6. Nicola Banks, 2015. "Understanding youth: towards a psychology of youth poverty and development in sub-Saharan African cities," Global Development Institute Working Paper Series 21615, GDI, The University of Manchester.
    7. Seymour, Greg & Peterman, Amber, 2018. "Context and measurement: An analysis of the relationship between intrahousehold decision making and autonomy," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 111(C), pages 97-112.
    8. Merridy Wilson-Strydom, 2017. "Disrupting Structural Inequalities of Higher Education Opportunity: “Grit”, Resilience and Capabilities at a South African University," Journal of Human Development and Capabilities, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 18(3), pages 384-398, July.
    9. Eger, Claudia & Miller, Graham & Scarles, Caroline, 2018. "Gender and capacity building: A multi-layered study of empowerment," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 207-219.

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