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Sense of Community in Rural Communities

A Mixed Methodological Approach

  • Chapter
Psychological Sense of Community

Part of the book series: The Plenum Series in Social/Clinical Psychology ((SSSC))

Abstract

Psychological sense of community (SOC) was proposed to be the central aspect of community psychology by Sarason (1974). At the Society for Community Research and Action conference at Yale in 1999, Sarason was asked by Bob Newbrough why he had formulated the concept of SOC. He stated that as a child during the depression he experienced the terror of being at the point of having no physical and emotional support. Sustained experiences of this kind then form the basis of alienation that individuals and groups in our societies experience. Sarason argued that this was a profound experience and is a considerable risk factor for psychological and social problems. Understanding SOC, thus, is an essential aspect of community psychology.

The authors wish to thank David MacMillan for his constructive comments on the draft of this chapter.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Curtin University, Australia

    Brian J. Bishop

Authors
  1. Brian J. Bishop
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  2. Sheridan J. Coakes
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  3. Pamela N. D’Rozario
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia

    Adrian T. Fisher

  2. Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia

    Christopher C. Sonn

  3. Curtin University, Perth, Australia

    Brian J. Bishop

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© 2002 Springer Science+Business Media New York

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Bishop, B.J., Coakes, S.J., D’Rozario, P.N. (2002). Sense of Community in Rural Communities. In: Fisher, A.T., Sonn, C.C., Bishop, B.J. (eds) Psychological Sense of Community. The Plenum Series in Social/Clinical Psychology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0719-2_14

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4615-0719-2_14

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-1-4613-5209-9

  • Online ISBN: 978-1-4615-0719-2

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

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