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Rebel with a cause: The disabled beggar

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Abstract

This paper analyzes the psychosocial implications of disabled begging. Conscious motives of these individuals may include profit, expediency, power, honesty, and public protest. Unconscious motives may include exhibitionism, anger, masochism, and rebellion. The social context, including hypocritical attitudes toward disability, is shown to contribute to the occurrence of this behavior.

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Thurer, S.L. Rebel with a cause: The disabled beggar. J Med Hum 9, 153–163 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01139240

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01139240

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