reading response. community psychology reading.

article. Community Psychology Reading.

according to McMillian & Chavis:

"Sense of Community is a feeling that members have of belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and to the group, and a shared faith that members' needs will be met through their commitment to be together."

the four elements that make up that sense of community are: 

membership is defined as:

boundaries (language, dress, ritual)

emotional safety (security, the ability to voice feelings),

sense of belonging + identification (acceptance by the community),

personal investment (the clash between two beliefs with differing opinions),

common symbol system.

influence is defined as:

            influence in a community that works in two directions:

                        members must be empowered to have influence over what the group does,

                        the group must have power over its members.

integration + fulfillment of needs is defined as:

            what is needed for survival, in desire and what is desired.

shared emotional connection is defined as:

           great personal interaction causes people to grow close,

quality interaction,

tasks that require group cohesiveness,

importance of shared events (crisis, traumatic event) creates bond,

investment of community into individuals,

reward in public causes attachment to community,

spiritual bond.

dynamics within + between the elements.
Formula 1: Shared emotional connection = contact + high-quality interaction

Formula 2: High-quality interaction = (events with successful closure - ambiguity) x (event valence x sharedness of the event) + amount of honor given to members - amount of humiliation