WEEK 2 LECTURE

What is society?
A society or a human society is (1) a group of people related to each other through
persistent relations. (2) A large social grouping that shares the same geographical
territory, subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations.
The term society came from the Latin word societas, which in turn was derived from
the noun socius ("comrade, friend, ally"; adjectival form socialis) thus used to
describe a bond or interaction among parties that are friendly, or at least civil. Human
societies are characterized by patterns of relationships (social relations) between
individuals sharing a distinctive culture and institutions; a given society may be
described as the sum total of such relationships among its constituent members.
In social sciences, a society invariably entails social stratification and/or dominance
hierarchy
The expressions "society", "social" and "community" have often been used to mean
the same things. A social group describes the common characteristics of a group, but
not the personal relationships within the group. A community group is the shared
interests, networks and relationships we have with each other within society. While a
person can move from one community to another easily according to his/her needs at
a particular time, it is more difficult to move from one society to another. As a result
we see lots of communities that are a part of the same social group.
Societies are more than a bunch of people stuck together in the same space and time.
They are organised into groups that have various functions within society. These
functions are organised into various roles that fit together like a clock or a play.
These groups can be described in any number of ways according to the relationship of
a group with other groups in society. They provide a way to understand our
relationships with each other and the others around us:
Society: probably the most inclusive or generalised
Community: defines our relationships within society
Clubs: defines our relationships within the community
Teams: defines our relationships within clubs
Groups: defines our relationships within teams
What is community?
Community: The origin of the word "community" comes from the Latin munus,
which means the gift, and cum, which means together, among each other. So,
community literally means to give among each other."
A community is not My Community. It is Our Community. Communities are as
varied and individual as its members.
Often people belong to two or more communities. Family, education, business, work,
sport, religion, culture all involve communities that we take for granted as a normal
part of our lives. They seem to be a part of the background. Its only when things are
not going the way that we want, that we take any notice of them.
Most people think of communities as a place or setting, or a suburb or city that they
live in. Communities are much more that that. They are the very essence of how we
live and socialise with others. We have our own personal communities, the
communities that we are a part of and the communities that we associate with.
Communities are the building blocks that allow us to make sense of the world in
which we live, participate and share experiences. They provide a sense of identity and
purpose, a sense of being a part of and belonging.

Communities are about caring and sharing.

The idea of "community" probably came about where people gathered around a
common area for their mutual benefit. Sharing a language, customs, ideas, skills,
goods and services, or protection from enemies would be some of the advantages in
being a part of a group.
Over the years the idea of community has changed to accommodate different things.
While different definitions mean different things, the idea is the same; that a group
comes together or lives together to share something that is of value to the members of
that community.
Today, the word "community" has taken on whole new meanings. New technology in
communication and transportation mean that a community is no longer where we live.
While we may live in a suburb, town, city or some geographical location, they no
longer define the communities that we are a part of.
Communities have also become so specialised these days that we no longer look for
one community to fulfil our needs.
Types of Communities:
Usually communities are of different types which fulfil different needs of people.
The spiritual community
The family community
The living community
The recreational community
The learning community
The employment community
The health community
The internet community
The more communities that a person participates in, the richer and more diverse the
persons life will be.
Characteristics of a community:
Whatever is the kind of community, they do follow certain pattern of having common
characteristics.
1) Communities have various roles / goals
Each community has a particular role that fulfils a particular need.
The role of the community provides the members with a sense of belonging and
purpose. Community roles can be active in providing a service, supportive, where the
members support the activities of another community, or a mixture where the
members share experiences, resources, skills and knowledge with each other.
Communities can be recreational, and provide a social role in enabling its members to
participate in various activities, or provide an educational role in providing its
members with knowledge, skills and resources, or fulfil any other role that is valued
in society as well as other communities that it is a part of.
Valued community roles provide a common cause or focus for the community. The
members develop a sense of pride and purpose in being a part of the community that
bond and strengthen the community. The role is valued in a sense that it brings
something to the wider community that it is a part of, as well as the members of the
community. Valued roles are also about community leadership that is in touch with the
community and can create a feeling of importance within the members.
2) Communities have Institutions in them.

Institutions define the way we interact with each other within the community. They
are determined by the formal and informal cultures and values of the society in which
the community participates, and provide order and stability within the community.
In doing this, a positive environment is created where all members have valued roles
in supporting each other as a group.
Even institutions also have some common characteristics. Institutions have also
culture, values, hierarchies, roles and responsibilities, expectations and behaviour.
a) Culture:
"The set of shared attitudes, values, goals, and practices that characterizes an
institution, organization or group"
The culture of the institution is the way the institution is organised. This is generally
determined by its role in society. For example, while the institutions of a hospital,
nursing home or prison are simular, the culture of each is quite different.
b) Values:
Institutional values (or social values) are different to our personal values in that they
allow the members to function within the institution.
c) Hierarchy:
Institutions are all about a means of coordination and cooperation. The hierarchy
defines the agenda and purpose, and the way things get done.
d) Roles:
Leadership is probably the most important role, and provides the identity and purpose
within the institution. Other roles are determined by the hierarchy and the members in
fulfilling the agenda and purpose of the institution.
e) Expectations:
The members are expected to fulfil their assigned role within the institution.
f) Behaviours:
The way the members treat each other or interact with each other is determined by the
culture, values, hierarchy, roles and expectations of the members within the
institution.
3) Boundaries
All communities need a way to determine what the community does and how it does
it. Boundaries can be physical, virtual or psychological. They define the identity of
the community. Without boundaries, the roles of the community become meaningless.
Does a sporting community focus on transportation or scientific research? While
transportation or scientific research may be a part of the community, they are not a
part of the role of the community in society.
Without boundaries the community may :
become unfocused,
become too diversified and uncoordinated,
not adequately provide for its own needs, or the needs of its members,
create tensions within communities that it is a part of, or a part of it,
create layers of bureaucracy that become communities in their own right,
Boundaries are often defined by:
the institutions of the community
the members of the community
the settings (physical, virtual or psychological)
government (local state and federal) policy and practice
other communities that it is are a part of, or are a part of it

4) Members
Communities are about caring and sharing. All members share a common cause and
have a sense of identity. A sense of belonging is created where the members are
connected to, and interact with each other.
Just as the members of the community have ownership of their lives and property, the
community has ownership of its members and property through the various
mechanisms put in place by the community.
The community has ownership of its members through:
May involve some formal / informal induction or rite of passage
Commitment: Members have a sense of obligation towards the community.
Loyalty: Members give up a certain amount personal autonomy for the greater
good.
Respect: Members have respect for each other.
Responsibility: Members take on responsibilities (and feel responsible for
others) within the community.
Safety and security: Members feel that they can call on other members in
times of need or when threatened.
Resources: Community resources are owned by the community on behalf of
its members. Personal resources are sometimes shared between the members.
All members have the opportunity to participate in the activities of the
community.
5) Communication
The community needs to be able to communicate with its members in order to achieve
its goals.
The members communicate with each other to share thoughts, feelings, experiences,
skills and knowledge. Clear thinking and expression of thoughts is essential to
effective communication.
The community also needs to communicate with others outside the community. To
function effectively as a community, the community needs to be able to respond to
events that are outside the community and have an impact on the community.
6) The skills and resources of the community provide for the needs of its
members
A community needs a set of skills and resources in order to achieve it's goals. They
provide an available source of wealth that can be drawn upon when needed.
If the community does not have the skills and resources to look after the needs of its
members, those skills and resources need to come from somewhere else.
7) Needs
Balance the needs of the community with the needs of its members.
Community Leadership
Understanding the changing internal and external environments and how they
relate to the community
Involving all members
Effective communication between all members
Understanding what members need
Aware of relevant research and the evidence base for practice
Data gathering, analysis and reporting mechanisms

Informed decision making processes

Coordinating internal and external services

8) Teams groups
Teams and groups are an important part of any community in providing for the needs
of its members.
Rights of Communities:
the right to its own identity
the right to set its own agenda, constitution and institutions
the right to participate within the wider community
the right to access skills and resources within the wider community
the right to support its members within the wider community
the right to protect its members from influences that disadvantage its members
the right to refuse entry to members that do not fit into the community
the right to evict members that do not accept the agenda, constitution and
institutions of the community
the right to refuse skills and resources to the wider community, where its
members are disadvantaged
the right to determine its own destiny
Responsibilities of Communities:
to ensure the agenda, constitution and institutions of the community, protect
and support its members, as well as other communities and their members
to provide a safe, secure environment for its members, as well as other
communities and their members
to facilitate the development of valued roles and relationships for the
community, its members, as well as other communities and their members
to ensure that the community communicates with its members as well as other
communities and their members
to ensure the community does not disadvantage other communities or their
members
to responsibility use, and share, skills and resources to the advantage of its
members, as well as other communities and their members
to respect, protect and promote the rights, cultures and institutions of other
communities and their members
to engage with other communities in an interdependent relationship