Earlier this week, I took my mother grocery shopping, and there was this lady that couldn’t start her car. She asked a man if he had jumper cables and he said no. I knew I had some in my car, so I approached her and asked if she needed a jump. I pulled my car around and helped her. After, letting her car run for a little, I told her she should really get her battery checked out, just to make sure that everything else is okay with her car. She thanked me and asked if she owed me anything. “No, not at all,” I said. On my drive home, I kept thinking about what she said to me. Here was this woman who thought that she may owe me something just because I helped her out. Was she used to people always wanting something from her? I thought about the community we were in. Yeah, we didn’t live in the same area, but she is a part of my mother’s community by geographical association. (Both women live in a small town called Conyers.) By helping her, I felt like I was helping someone from my global community-a human being. We should be able to rely on one another for help without there being a “one-hand-washes-the-other” situation.
This situation made me re-examine the global community that I believe in. According to our textbook, a positive sense of community is established by people if members feel that: a) they have membership, that they are valued and a part of the bigger picture; b) they are influenced by their community and/or have influence on their community, which fosters responsibility; c) their needs are met by the other members; and d) they share an emotional connection, which helps us to build lasting relationships and to discover our own thoughts and feelings. These 4 aspects combined is what makes us feel like we have a positive experience. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. There are too many young people who don’t feel like they are a part of our global community and feel that taking their lives is the only way to become part of a community. Is there a way we can make everyone feel and believe that they are wanted?
Tags: #AppliedSocialPsychology, Community, conyers, global community
Unfortunately, I agree with your sentiment that many people today feel disconnected from society or their immediate community. I think the current disconnect is the result of a couple of factors: 1). Communities expanding and lack of interaction on a people to people basis 2). An increased pace of life and lack of interaction because of technology.
I think the best way to resolve the current trend in disassociation and disconnect among communities is behaving the way you did. Perhaps people can re-establish a sense of belonging by acts of kindness without expectations of a reward or compensation. Additionally, I think taking the time to engage with strangers and acknowledge them rather than burying your head with your cell phone while waiting in line. I do believe that people can be influenced and benefit from examples set by others.