Synonyms
Definition
…the experience of personal involvement in a system or environment so that persons feel themselves to be an integral part of the system of environment. (Hagerty, Lynch-Sauer, Patusky, Bouwsema, & Collier, 1992 p. 173)
The sense of belonging and identification involves the feeling, belief, and expectation that one fits in the group and has a place there, a feeling of acceptance by the group, and a willingness to sacrifice for the group. (Macmillan & Chavis, 1986 p. 10)
Description
Sense of belonging is the psychological feeling of belonging or connectedness to a social, spatial, cultural, professional, or other type of group or a community (Hurtado & Carter, 1997). Shared beliefs or ideals, a supportive environment, self-esteem, and opportunities for interaction can influence the development of sense of belonging in an individual (Winter-Collins & McDaniel, 2000; Ma, 2003). They can further influence the level of involvement and...
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Raman, S. (2014). Sense of Belonging. In: Michalos, A.C. (eds) Encyclopedia of Quality of Life and Well-Being Research. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-0753-5_2646
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