Community Dynamics and Community Action

This set of flashcards covers vocabulary terms related to community dynamics and action, including types of groups, community features, and different perspectives on community structure.

Community

A social unit with commonality such as norms, religion, values, customs, or identity, sharing a sense of place situated in a given geographical area or in virtual space.

Formal Group

A group formed when people come together to accomplish specific goals and objectives such as work, church, clubs, and trade associations.

Informal Group

A group formed when two or more people come together to accomplish a specific task which is mainly socially geared such as families, friends, or people who commute together.

Urban Areas

The region surrounding a city; an area with high density of population.

Rural Area

An open swath of land that has few homes or other buildings, and not very many people, with a very low population density.

Global Community

The people or nations of the world, considered as being closely connected by modern telecommunications and as being economically, socially, and politically interdependent.

Sectoral

Relating to the various economic sectors of a society or to a particular economic sector such as Health, Education, Law enforcement, Government, or Youth.

Social Space

Physical or virtual space such as social center, online social media, or other gathering place where people gather and interact (e.g. mall, park, website, social media).

Interest (Feature)

People who share the same interest or passion.

Action (Feature)

People trying to bring about change.

Place (Feature)

People brought together by geographic boundaries.

Practice (Feature)

People in the same profession or undertake the same activities.

Circumstances (Feature)

People brought together by external events/situations.

Community Dynamics

The process of change and development in communities of all living organisms including plants, microorganisms, and small and large creatures of every sort.

Community Action

Any activity that increases the understanding, engagement and empowerment of communities in the design and delivery of local services; sometimes described as “social action” or “community engagement”.

Social Science Perspective

Views community as composed of people interacting with one another, sensitive to each other’s emotions, as well as interest and subjective points of view.

Institutional Perspective

Defined by establishments or physical spaces (social model) and networks where community groups are formed, including the ways people act, interact, react, and expect each other to act.

Civil Society Perspective

Stresses the idea of forming a group, foundation or an organization in service to society, viewing it as a community of citizens linked by common interest and collective activity.

Local & Grassroots Perspective

Highlights volunteerism and self organization, encouraging local citizens to contribute to the community by taking responsibilities and actions.