The author discusses preliminary outcomes o fan ongoing research in participation of “pobladores” (inhabitants of working class settlements) in “barrio” organizations. This research is a case study of a working class settlement in Santiago, Chile, originated in 1972 through a land seizure. Even though these “pobladores” have a long tradition of labor union activity and of social movilization at the “barrio” level, only a small proportion of them has joined the “barrio” organizations born later on. This case study attempts to show some of the “subjective” difficulties linked to beliefs and motives that one could expect to arise in this kind of settlements even when the objective conditions seem to be favorable to stimulate participation. The main hypothesis is, precisely, that participation in “barrio” organizations is hindered by several factors, mainly beliefs and motives that tend to neutralize impulses to participation stemming from critical consciousness and economic and social insecurity. The preliminary outcomes of the study confirm the hypothesis, going to the identification of the most important factors which inhibit participation.