As individuals, we all have different preferences for what type of community we would like to live in. Some of us prefer the hustle and bustle of urban communities over the quiet countryside of a rural community, while others prefer suburban communities where they can raise a family with other people who share their visions of a “white picket fence” and “three-quarter porch.” However, no matter who we are and what our living preferences are, a sense of community is critical to our well-being and achieving the dream of being able to call our living space a home, a safe haven to rest our heads, entertain guests, or raise a family.
Regardless of what type of community we prefer to live in, the shared experiences and common goals with others in our community are a constant fixture for allowing us to achieve and maintain a sense of community. Jenkins (2008) argued that “integration and fulfillment of needs is brought into context in numerous community case studies to position how influential factors/variables reinforce individual and group networks.” These shared experiences and goals are often fueled through events in our communities and through the actions of our politicians, which is why voting regularly in our towns is essential for fostering a sense of community within us and for strengthening bonds with our neighbors in utilizing our voices to vote for politcians that will make our communities even stronger and more prosperous for ourselves and our families. Because there are different types of social institutions contained within these communities, the presentation of their function is also often different, however, they all share one common purpose for their participants. “For example, schools and various other insitutions including churches, community halls, pavilions, and recreational spaces represent places of integration” (Wise, 2015). Even though not all members of a community may participate in these events and gatherings, their presence and function is known to all community members and thus, provide a constant foundation for the sense of community that has developed within all its members.
Recognizing the needs of an individual and their goals are essential for them before they can develop and maintain a sense of community. As stated previously, every individual within a community has a diverse set of criteria that is important to them in selecting what kind of environment they would like to live in. For me, having a quiet, clean, and safe community is important to me. I lived in Philadelphia for four years before moving to Phoenixville in 2014, to purchase a home in a town that I loved and grew visiting due to its quaint downtown and movie theater that showed classic movies. My town has a strong sense of community overall for all who live here, and there are constant community events and functions to enhance that for all. I have street permit parking right outside of my house and I can walk downtown in five minutes to visit my favorite theater, shop, and go out to eat for great meal, which was a welcome change after living in Philadelphia and dealing with all of the anxiety that that experience created for me with having to drive around (sometimes for hours) every night when coming home from work. However, these preferences for community may differ among others. “The different ways in which the term community has been understood, and the purposes for which it has been utilised, show that there is no simple, stable meaning for the term” (Dinnie and Fischer, 2020). But no matter how one defines community for themselves, one thing can be certain. A sense of community is essential for anyone who seeks a comfortable and prosperous environment in which they choose to live, and to establish a foundation to accomplish their goals amongst others who share their same values.
References:
Dinnie, E. and Fischer, A. (2020). The Trouble with Community: How ‘Sense of Community’ Influences Participation in Formal, Community-Led Organisations and Rural Governance. Sociologia Ruralis, 60: 243-259. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1111/soru.12273
Jenkins, R. (2008). Social Identity. New York: Routledge.
Wise, N. (2015). Placing Sense of Community. Journal of Community Psychology, 43: 920-929. https://doi-org.ezaccess.libraries.psu.edu/10.1002/jcop.21722
Hello,
I loved reading your insightful blog post. A positive sense of community benefits people’s well-being. According to the textbook, “Community psychology concerns the relationships of individuals with communities and society. By integrating research with action, it seeks to understand and enhance quality of life for individuals, communities, and societies” (Gruman et al., 2016). Building a sense of community enhances the individual’s quality of life. One thing that I thought was beneficial in your statement was when you mentioned that “a sense of community makes one feels comfortable in their environment”. That influences the environment surrounding the individual feeling happy and like they belong will help benefit their psychological needs and influence how they will adjust to new changes. As you mentioned you moved before from Philadelphia to Phoenixville moving to a new place for a fresh start can be intimidating, especially when you do not know the area or people. Having a sense of community can help individuals cope with change instead of them just depending on their flight or fight instincts right away because they feel uncomfortable in a new place. Relocating to a new place can cause psychological distress. According to an article I found, “the study explore the effects of relocation stress on depression and anxiety in long-term care residents and to investigate the moderating effect of cognitive status” (Costlow & Parmelee, 2019). Results showed that residents who have moved in the past year reported more anxiety and depression, but the study aimed at a particular group such as older adults with cognitive impairments. Even without any cognitive dysfunctions adapting to a new environment can affect our mental health.
Reference
Costlow, K., & Parmelee, P. A. (2019). The impact of relocation stress on cognitively impaired and cognitively unimpaired long-term care residents. Aging & Mental Health, 24(10), 1589–1595. https://doi.org/10.1080/13607863.2019.1660855
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2016). Applied Social Psychology (3rd ed.). SAGE Publications, Inc. (US). https://ereader.chegg.com/books/9781506353968