2. The word “community” is derived
from the Latin communitas (
meaning the same, which is turn
derived from communis, which
means “ common, public, shared by
all or many”.
What is a community?
3. ● A community is a group of people
living in the same place or having a
particular characteristic in common
such as norms, religion, values or
identity.
● It is also a place where individuals
work and play.
4. Basic elements of community:
● Locality
Locality means a community occupies a territorial area permanent or
changing. The people are having belonging to their locality and
develop “we” feeling with each other.
● Sentiments
The community sentiment is the social coherence, which the people
inculcate within themselves. This sense of belonging together and to
the residence is the real sentiment of community. Hence a common
way of life of people along with its awareness on a common territory
is a community.
5. ● Group of People
Community is the totality of individuals with similar conditions of life.
Thus it is a group of a people living together similarly.
● Common Life
One of the elements of community is that there is always common
life. There is no up and downs and inequality in community.
● Particular Name
A community is always identified by its name. Thus it has its own
particular name.
6. ● Production, Distribution, Consumption
The community provides its members with the
means of their living. This may be agriculture,
industry or services.
● Socialization
The community has means by which it instills its
norms and values in its members. This may be
tradition, modeling and/or formal education.
Five functions of community:
7. ● Social Control
The community has the means to enforce
adherence to community values. This may be
group pressure to conform and/or formal laws.
● Social Participation
The community fulfills the need for
companionship. This may occur in a
neighborhood church, business or other group.
8. ● Mutual Support
The community enables its members to
cooperate to accomplish tasks too large or too
urgent to be handled by a single person.
Supporting a community hospitals with tax
dollars and donations is an example of people
cooperating to accomplish the task health care.
9. 1. Distinctiveness
2. Homogeneity
Each community has defined geographical boundaries
having its beginning and end. These boundaries are more
demarkable in smaller communities than in larger
communities. E.g: village, town, neighborhood etc.
There is similarity in psychosocial characteristics of
people living in the defined boundaries of the
community. Similarity in language, life style, customs,
interest, traditions etc.
Characteristics of Community:
10. 3. Closeness
4. Self-sufficiency
The people in the community have to face to face
interaction and free communication.
E.g. mostly in small communities like small village
and neighborhood.
The community provides all such means and facilities
which help in meeting the basic needs of its people. The
space to live, means for livelihood, education, protection
and security.
Characteristics of Community:
11. 5. Solidarity or sense of togetherness
There is unity and cohesiveness among the
members in the community which is based
on their interaction and sense of
belongingness to community.
Characteristics of Community:
12. Two types of community:
URBAN
An urban area is the region
surrounding a city. Most
inhabitants of urban areas
have non agricultural jobs.
Urban areas are very
developed, meaning there is a
density of human structures
such as houses, commercial
buildings, roads, bridges, and
railways.
RURAL
Rural areas are the
opposite of urban areas.
Rural areas, often called
"the country," have low
population density and
large amounts of
undeveloped land.
13. RURAL URBAN
● Source of income is from
primary sector activities
like agriculture and fishing.
● Source of income is from
secondary sector
activities including
industries or factories or
services.
● They have all the basic
necessities and
advanced medical
services.
● People usually produce
their own food for
subsistence.
● People visit fresh
markets and grocery
stores to buy food.
● They have the basic
necessities but these areas
do not have the medical
services for which they have
to go to the cities.
● They consist of a small
population.
● They consist of a very
high population.
● Both have an
education system.
● Both have jobless
and poor people.
● Both types of
community have
hospitals, police
officers and
firemen that
provide services to
community.
