Chapter 1: Importance of Community Flashcards
Where does the word “community” come from?
The Greek word for “fellowship”
What did Emile Durkheim’s research conclude about community?
People who had more connections with their families and community members were less likely to die by suicide.
Whose research concluded that people with greater community and family connections were less likely to die by suicide?
Emile Durkheim
What did Richard Wilkinson and Kate Pickett’s study “The Spirit Level” conclude?
Inequality is associated with:
-heightened stress
-status anxiety
-low trust
-low community participation
-decreased happiness
True or false: There is no correlation between community integration and health outcomes.
False: people who are more integrated into their communities are less likely to have colds, heart attacks, cancer, and depression.
What are some consequences of rapid industrialization and increasing income levels? (3)
-Weakened community control
-More individual freedom
-More loneliness
Young people spend increasingly large amounts of time alone. What are some consequences of this social isolation?
Increased rates of:
-depression
-suicide
-stomach upsets
-migraines
-sleep disorders
True or false: Community involvement and interpersonal connection make people more likely to value diversity.
True
True or false: A lack of social relationships is a minor health risk factor.
False: a lack of social relationships has a similar level of risk to smoking, high blood pressure, and lack of physical activity
What are Genuine Progress Indicators?
A set of criteria for measuring individual and collective wellbeing.
Canada has 16 Social Determinants of Health; name 8.
-Indigenous ancestry
-Disability
-Early life
-Education
-Employment and working conditions
-Food security
-Gender
-Geography
-Health care services
-Housing
-Immigrant status
-Income and its distribution
-Race
-Social safety net
-Social exclusion
-Unemployment and employment security
What term is used to describe this list of factors?
Indigenous ancestry, disability, early life, education, employment and working conditions, food security, gender, geography, health care services, housing, immigrant status, income and its distribution, race, social safety net, social exclusion, unemployment and employment security.
Canadian Social Determinants of Health
How many Social Determinants of Health does Canada recognize?
16
True or false: Stronger communities typically cost more to run.
False: Strengthening a community can reduce its health and social costs as well as costs associated with “criminal” activity
What are 4 national/macro-level trends impacting Canadian communities at the micro level?
-Rural depopulation
-Immigration
-Population movements within Canada
-Demographic changes (Indigenous population growth, population aging)
Many Canadians are relocating to new communities in different provinces. What factor can reduce the stress of this experience?
Access to social networks (family, friends, neighbours, coworkers, cultural/religious organizations, etc.) to promote a sense of belonging
True or false: Canadians are more connected to their communities than ever before.
False: growing numbers of people do not have or cannot draw on social supports like friends, family, and community organizations
Why are fewer people spending time in their communities?
People are spending more time in the workplace, and some people have better access to social supports there than in their community
True or false: The relationship between individuals and communities is symbiotic
True: when one is strong (or struggling) the other is likely to be as well
What causes a “culture of silence” or “learned helplessness”?
Belief that one has little or no control over their environment
What happens when a person feels they have little or no control over their environment?
-Poor self-image
-Hopelessness
-Loss of power
-Culture of silence
-Learned helplessness
-Self-destructive behaviours
-Physical/emotional abuse of others
What characteristics do most definitions of community include?
-Social interaction
-Common connection
-Location
-Common interests, beliefs, and behaviours
At what levels can cultural communities be found? (5)
-Universal (shared human experience)
-Ecological (climate, wildlife, seasonal changes)
-National (governments, languages, institutions)
-Regional (local groups)
-Racio-ethnic (individuals outside the dominant racial/ethinic group)
What are norms?
The rules that separate what is appropriate from what is inappropriate behaviour in a community; they are sometimes codified as laws
What are institutions?
Organizations that are significant to a community; they may be formal (ex. religious groups) or informal (ex. families)
What are artifacts?
Tangible evidence of a community’s existence which may be shared or private, sacred or secular, physical or intellectual
What is social capital?
A community’s social fabric; the networks of relationships among people
What is the main belief of social capital theory?
Social networks have value and affect the wellbeing of individuals and communities
What are some characteristics of a community with high social capital? (4)
-High levels of trust
-Broad based participation in decisions
-Collective action
-Resource sharing
In a First Nations community context, what are the main factors of social capital? (3)
-Bonding (relations within the community)
-Bridging (ties with other communities)
-Linkage (ties to institutions)
According to Tonnies, what are the two fundamental types of communities?
-Gemeinschaft (pre-industrial)
-Gesellschaft (industrial)
What are Gemeinschaft communities based on?
Reciprocal relationships involving relatively intimate face-to-face dealings with the whole person
What are Gesellschaft communities based on?
-Legal/rational notions
-Achievement of individual goals
-Bureaucratized, role-determined interactions
What is a boom town?
Small, primarily agriculturally-based communities transformed by rapid development related to some locally-available resource (oil, lumber, coal, etc.)
What are some consequences that boom towns face? (6)
-Increased rates of crime
-Depersonalization of services
-Increasingly large, bureaucratized government
-Outsider-controlled economy (large franchises, non-local business owners/investors)
-Family system collapse
-Substance abuse and poor mental health
What are the 3 types of communities?
-Geographic
-Function/attribute
-Interest
What is a geographic community?
A group of people living in the same physical area
What is a function/attribute community?
A group of people who share a common factor (gender, race, religion, socioeconomic status, etc.)
What is an interest community?
A group of people who come together to address a common interest or concern (professional associations, trade unions, social action groups, etc.)
What are the 5 functions of a community?
-Production, distribution, and consumption
-Socialization
-Social control
-Social participation
-Mutual support
What does the production, distribution, and consumption function of a community entail?
Meeting supply and demand for certain basic necessities (food, shelter, clothing, etc.) by locally owned and run businesses or local governance
What does the socialization function of a community entail?
Transmitting prevailing knowledge, social values, and behaviour patterns to members
What does the social control function of a community entail?
Ensuring conformity to group norms
What does the social participation function of a community entail?
Providing opportunities for members to interact with each other and participate in co-operative activities
What does the mutual support function of a community entail?
Acting as a bridge between families and bureaucratized services by providing informal assistance (care of the sick, child care, crisis support, etc.)
What are intentional communities?
Groups of people who have chosen to live or work together in pursuit of a common goal/vision (social, economic, spiritual, political, or ecological); many share land or housing
What are some common themes in intentional communities? (3)
-Living co-operatively
-Solving problems non-violently
-Sharing experiences with other members
