Mary Parker Follett defines community as “To integrate is not to absorb, melt, fuse or to reconcile” and “The creative power of the individual appears not when one ‘wish’ dominates others, but when all ‘wishes’ unite in a working whole.” According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, community is “A group of people with a common characteristic or interest living together within a larger society”. Wikipedia’s definition is “A community is a social unit (a group of people) with a shared socially-significant characteristic, such as place, set of norms, culture, religion, values, customs, or identity”.
When we speak about community, it is key to understand Gemeinschaftsgefühl — German from Gemeinschaft (community) plus Gefühl (feeling). In Adlerian psychology, it is a core concept which means ‘community feeling’ or ‘social interest’ where individuals feel a sense of belonging, connection, interested in the well-being of others, and responsibility to people and society. It is about our personal growth (having a sense of meaning and purpose in our life, volunteering, contributing to our community and society), mental health (healthy mental health and wellbeing, resilience), and social relationships (being encouraging to others, collaboration and cooperation, mutual respect, creating nurturing and positive relationships). In Adlerian psychotherapy by Carlson & Englar-Carlson (2017), “Alfred Adler wanted to help people get along with their family, friends, and others. He valued the role of cooperation with and connectedness to the world around each person” (p. 3).
Community tends to include, but it not limited to, belongingness, connections, interconnectedness, shared identity, and support, depending on the individual. Community has its own meaning to different cultural groups.
Caribbean People: Cultural heritage, identity and expression (strength, religion, social network), historical experiences (colonialism, migration, slavery) and resilience, shared cultural traditions (music, food), supportive, collectivism, interconnectedness, sense of belonging; community is key in terms of individual, cultural, economics, and social aspects of their lives.
Indigenous People: Connection to ancestors and teachings, cultural practices such as storytelling and spirituality, belongingness and harmony with the land; community provides connections, strength, guidance, support and identity which helps to navigate the challenges faced in society and be resilient.
East Asians: Collectivism and shared identity, interdependence, interconnected, deep respect for elders who share their wisdom, strength of the family and values; community provides support, sense of belonging, working together in harmony, and overall well being.
African Americans: Village concept to child rearing, shared experiences (racism, discrimination, slavery), cultural identity and values (food, music, religion), support and safety, collectivism, resilience, religious faith, interdependence and interconnectedness; community creates a sense of belonging, wellbeing, and helps to navigate the inequalities and struggles they experience.
South East Asians: Shared identity and sense of belonging, mutual support, family and obligations, cultural and religious identity, strong social networks; community provides support for immigration challenges, preservation of collectivistic culture, values and beliefs, and connection to their traditions.
Europeans: Common values and interdependence, shared cultural heritage and historical identity, economic and political cooperation; community gives a feeling of belonging for the individual country and continent.
Community is important because it creates togetherness and belongingness, a supportive environment, healthy and positive connections, a strong link to our identity, provides resources, fosters building relationships, allows us to grow and contribute to the overall well being of ourselves, others, and the betterment of humanity.
References
- Carlson, J. And Englar-Carlson, M. (2017). Adlerian psychotherapy. American Psychological Association.
- Merriam-Webster Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community
- Tiayon, S. (July 16, 2024). Do you find belonging in groups or communities? Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/do_you_find_belonging_in_groups_or_communities
- Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Community