Socio-Psychological Concept Of Community

LITERATURE
In this chapter, a socio-psychological perspective of the concept of community is introduced. Community is discussed and defined, as it relates to the process of integration, using various social science literature and case studies. The focus is on the most influential and community-centred studies of sociologist Graham Day (2006) and social psychologists David McMillan and David Chavis (1986). In their investigations, they identify the components involved in creating a strong sense of community. Also, the context of introversion will be explored because personality plays a role in people’s feelings of connectedness with others. Susan Cain addresses the area of introversion and the studies and theories behind it in her book entitled

There is no specific type of need. Rather, needs are specific to the individual and can be emotional, physical, or psychological. This reinforces the member’s commitment to the community because it reflects why the person wanted to become a member in the first place. If a problem occurs, then the “community is able and ready to solve the problem, and in doing so there is a sense that they have made the right decision in joining the community” (Day 2006, 12). Fulfillment of Needs suggests that members of a community believe that “the resources available in their community will meet their needs. The principle of integration and fulfillment of needs includes both the individual member’s feeling of being supported by other members in the community while also supporting them” (Sangwan et al. 2009, 8). For example, there is growing concern about drinking and driving in a town, and the members of the town are very concerned about the number of deaths that are direct results of drinking and driving accidents. A town meeting is called by a mother who recently lost her son to a drunk driver. Victims of drunk drivers and concerned families attend the meeting to discuss how to minimize the number of deaths. After a few meetings and brainstorming sessions, the town collectively decides to implement a new law that will ultimately lead to fewer deaths from drinking and driving. The sense of community is evident in this example because it demonstrates that the organizing leader (the victim’s mother) forms the potential membership (concerned residents and victims of drunk drivers) and influence (acceptance of the other’s needs) to create integration and fulfills the need to reduce the number of deaths. The concerns of the residents are valued and desired and lead to a collective decision and a sense of belongingness,