A sense of community

The following is notes taken from a paper written by McMillan and Chavis (1986)

"A 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." 

Five key aspects:

1. Membership
a. Boundaries
b. Emotional safety
c. A sense of belonging and identification
d. Personal investment
e. A common symbol system

McMillan - the "spirit" of community derives from "the spark of friendship."

2. Influence
• must be able to have a voice into what happens
• the more dominant are less influential
• trust is the salient ingredient
• order, authority and justice create the atmosphere for the exchange of power

3. Integration and fulfillment of needs
• need is more than survival, it is what is desired and valued
• shared values give direction to the issue of which "needs" beyond survival will be pursued.
• an acknowledged interdependence with others, a willingness to maintain this interdependence by giving to or doing for others what one expects from them.
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4. Shared emotional connection

- The definitive element for true community
- Shared history
- greater personal interaction increases the likelihood that people will become close
- quality of interaction
- closure to events. Ambiguous interaction and unresolved tasks inhibit group cohesiveness
- shared events facilitate group bonding
- investment - if you give more, you will own more
- effect of honor and humiliation - if you are honored in front of the community you are likely to stay, if you are humiliated, likely to leave
- spiritual

5. Dynamics within and between the elements