3A Society: Social, Historical and Political Influences

Question 1

Define community

Answer 1

A feeling that members have belonging, a feeling that members matter to one another and a shared faith that members needs will be met through their commitment to be together

Question 2

Define membership

Answer 2

A feeling that one has invested part of oneself to become a member and has the right to belong

Question 3

Explain the elements of membership

Answer 3

• Has boundaries: to distinguish who does/doesn’t belong to the group, can be clear or subtle, provide the structure and security to protect group intimacy
• Personal investment: important contributor to a person’s feeling of group membership and his/her sense of community
• Common symbol systems: creates and maintains group boundaries and can create social distance between members/non-members

Question 4

Define and explain Influence as an element of community

Answer 4

• Members are more attracted to communities in which they feel they are influential
• There is significant positive relationship between cohesiveness and a community’s influence on it’s members to conform
• Pressure for conformity and uniformity comes from the needs of the individual and community for consensual validation
• Influence of member to community and community to member operate simultaneously

Question 5

Define and explain integration & fulfilment of needs as an element of community

Answer 5

• Reinforcement and need fulfilment is a primary function of a strong community
• Some rewards that are effective reinforcers of communities and status of membership, success of the community and competence/capabilities of other members
• The extent to which individual values are shared amongst the community members will determine the ability of the community to organise and prioritise it’s need fulfilment activities

Question 6

Explain the elements of shared emotional connection as an element of community

Answer 6

• Contact hypothesis: the more people interact, the more likely they are to become close
• Quality of interaction: the more positive the experience, and relationship, the greater the bond
• Closure to events: the more ambiguous the interaction and the community tasks are left unresolved, group cohesiveness will be inhibited
• Shared valent event hypothesis: the more important the event shared by those involved, the greater the community bond
• Investment: determines the importance to the members history and current status
• Effect of honour/humiliation on members
• Spiritual bond