HUMSS 12 C - COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT (REVIEWER HANDOUTS) PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY

LESSON 1 – PERSPECTIVES OF COMMUNITY I. Social Science Perspectives

- premised on the social dimension of human life—the interactions, relationships,
Why do we need to learn about communities? and bonds formed by individuals with other individuals and how these are
manifested in the formation of organizations within communities.
- key to appreciating our daily interactions with others, as we locate ourselves in a web
- an informally organized social entity, characterized by a sense of identity
of social connections.
- a group of people living in the same defined area, sharing common basic values,
Understanding the dynamics (changes) within our community organization, and interest
- a population which is geographically focused existing as a unique social entity
- aids us in responding to the collective challenges we face. with a collective identity and purpose
- Addressing these challenges through community initiatives and interventions requires a - a group of people with diverse characteristics, linked by social ties, formed and
familiarity of the community. consolidated by their collective aspirations, sharing and exchanging perspectives,
and are collectively engaged to do some concerned action in a geographical
• Discipline in Social Sciences location or setting
- are devoted to deepen our understanding of communities, community life, and - Community is a group of people whose connections and relations are formed by
community action. their shared histories, experiences, geographies, and identities. Members of a
community are brought together by commonly held interests, aspirations,
1. Sociology perspectives, and values.
- draw attention to a host of analytical tool and methods which may help - commonality
community members respond to the issues and problems they encounter - inside the territory
in the broader context of their institutional, social, and cultural
environments. II. Institutional Perspectives
- bounded by institution
2. Political Science - communities have a mechanism for coordinating values, goals, and actions of its
- aids in understanding the factors that affect how local government units individual members performed by social institutions.
interact with individual members and groups in a community - own values instilled to the members
- under institution
3. Anthropology - eg. school, religion, mass media
- concerned with how community knowledge and practices contribute in
addressing issues and solving community problems. 1. Social Institutions
- arise from voluntary shared agreements among individuals that generally
Careers related to community studies also shape their behavior as a collective.
- have emerged from the fields and focus areas of the various social science disciplines.
2. Institutions
- these careers are mostly inter- or multi-disciplinary in orientation, thematically
- are established rules that ensure the regular and predictable behavior of
converging in the examination of and advocacy for communities.
actors within a community.
o Community work and social welfare
- describes by Nobel Laureate Douglas North as the “rules of the game”
o Policy and advocacy research
that shape a community and society in general.
o Community program management

DEFINING COMMUNITY o CATEGORIES OF INSTITUTIONS

1. Formal Institutions
Community - are explicitly communicated, embodied in legally
codified documents or artifacts.
- considered as a Late Middle English term, is derived from the Latin word communitas - these serve as basis for the authority to be executed or
which means “fellowship”. expressed.
- Its Latin roots, communis, means “common.” Com translates to “with” or “together”, - Punishable
whereas munire translates to “to strengthen.” “to fortify”, or “to defend.”
 2. Informal Institutions - Example: lowering the incidence of petty crimes may be accomplished by
- are practices, norms, traditions, culture, conduct, and organizing citizen patrol groups and installing security features in the
belief systems of a community. community
- conform or not = not punishable
- these are not codified or written, but are nonetheless
embedded in communities, operating due to the
interactive process of preference exchanges and social LESSON 2 - COMMUNITY STRUCTURES, DYNAMICS, AND PROCESSES
expectations that occur therein.
Community Structures
- a community consists of social, cultural, political, and economic structures which keep the
III. Civil Society Perspectives
community intact and an integrated whole.
- community refers to a network of interpersonal ties that are based around a
- makes up the community
common interest.
- group of people to attain common goals
I. Community Social Structures
- joint action
- refers to the rules and expectations that people develop in the community over time to
- voluntary
help regulate and manage their interaction with one another.
- social groups
1. Civil Society
- refers to a political community of organized groups operating within the Elements of Social Structure:
authoritative parameters of the state. 1. Social Institutions
- is distinguished from the state to broadly refer to organizations that are private, - are established pattern of belief and behavior that are centered on addressing
autonomous from the government, and which are in pursuit of advocacies, basic social needs of people in the community.
causes, and goals. - Ex. Family, religion, education

2. Civil Society Organizations 2. Social Groups

- are built around the foundations of common interest in addressing social - consist of two or more people in the community who regularly intact with one
problems. another and consider themselves a distinct social unit.
- operate outside the government, but they work for the welfare of citizens. • Primary & Secondary
- Examples: Non-government organizations (NGOs) and People’s - Primary group (peers and neighborhood)
organizations (Pos) - Secondary group (political parties, clubs, associations)
• Informal & Formal
- Informal groups (groups bonded by common likes, interests, attitudes)
- Formal group (groups created by an organization to fulfill a task)
GOVERNMENT • In-Groups & Out-Groups
G - In-groups (those who strongly consider themselves as members of the
community)
- Out-groups (those who are either considered transient, not part of the
CIVIL SOCIETY CS PRIVATE SPHERE
PS community, or even marginalized)

3. Status
• Ascribed Status
IV. Organic/Grassroot Perspective - is that which is assigned at birth or is involuntarily acquired in the course
- community refers to local or grassroots groups within a particular locale that are of one’s life
driven and organized because of community issues and concerns. - Ex. Age, sex, social class of one’s parents, and race or ethnicity
- organizing groups in locality
• Achieved Status
- easy to create community
- is that which is acquired on the basis of merit or accomplishment in one’s
course of life.
1. Grassroots organizations or movements
- Ex. Barangay chairperson, school teacher, local doctor, entrepreneur, or,
- are typically composed of volunteers from the local/community level
albeit negatively, even a thief or a drunkard
 4. Role • Beliefs
- refers to the obligations or behaviors expected from an individual on the basis of - refer to the shared ideas of what is held collectively true by people in a
one’s status in life community
- Example: Parent- expected to take care of his or her children and ensure their - driving force of values
survival, growth, and development - right or wrong
- Ex. Pakikisama- manifested by getting along with others and showing
II. Community Cultural Structure concern for other’s well-being
- refers to the institutionalized patterns of ways of life that are shared, learned, developed,
and accepted by people in the community. 4. Rituals
- shared beliefs, values and customs, language - refer to the established sacred or secular procedures and ceremonies that people
- can be changed in the community regularly perform (Lavenda 2003)
- Ex. Practice of fasting during Ramadan or during Holy Week
Elements of Cultural Structure:

1. Symbols and Language 5. Artifacts

- are any objects or things that have special meaning for people in the community
• Symbols
- serve as relics
- are shared words, gestures, objects, or signals which people in a community
- which can be considered sacred, lucky, or endowed with mystical properties
use to convey and develop recognizable meanings
- Ex. Trophies won in awards, a statue of a saint, a monument that commemorates
- Ex. Wedding rings, flags
an important person in the community
• Languages
- symbolic system that allows people to develop complex thoughts and
III. Community Political Structure
record and explain new ideas through written communication, oral
- refers to the people’s established ways of allocating power
communication, or nonverbal actions
- making decisions in running and managing community affairs.
- political system, power, government
2. Norms
- refer to specific cultural expectations on how to behave in a given situation. Elements of Political Structure:
• Folkways
- Morality 1. Political Organizations
- are general standards of behavior that are adhered to by the people in the - pertain either to political parties or political groups in the community who are
community engaged in political activities
- not punishable and has no consequences • Political Parties
- Ex. Using po or opo when talking with someone to convey reverence or - engaged in partisan politics where they campaign for certain people to
respect become leaders in their local government
• Mores - direct
- Ethicality • Political Groups
- are strict norms that control moral and ethical behavior - involved in promoting certain political, moral, religious, and even
- not punishable and has no consequences but there’s morality involved commercial causes for the benefit of their members
- konsensya - NGOs, aims to promote, non-profit
- Ex. Avoiding dishonesty during examination - Advocacy
• Laws
- are the proscriptive and prescriptive norms written in a legal code 2. Citizenship Norms
- punishable - shared set of expectations about the citizen’s role in politics
- Ex. Paying of taxes, following traffic rules • Political Participation
- selecting leaders and influencing the behavior of political decision-makers
3. Values and Beliefs • Policy Participation
• Values - focuses on the role of citizens in regulation like crafting of laws and policies
- are the abstract standards in a community that define the ideal principles of - rally for bills
what is good, just, and desirable • Social Participation
- pinahahalagahan - concerns active citizen involvement in the political and administrative
- Ex. Hospitality towards guests system like public-private partnerships
 3. Power Relations 2. Business Climate
- pertain to how different groups in the community are able to interact with and - refers to the attitudes, laws, regulations, and policies of the government and
control other groups lending institutions toward businesses, enterprises, and business activities
• Dominant Groups
- usually those who are able to control the value systems, rewards, and 3. Trade
resources of the community - pertains to small, medium, and even large-scale enterprises and business
- have say on the community activities involving the sale and purchase of goods, services, and information.
• Minority Groups
- are those whose voices are muted and are considered subordinate to either 4. Vulnerability Context
the authority or influence of the dominant group. - pertains to the insecurity in the well-being of individuals and households in the
- Ex. Poor members of the community community, which may be in the form of;
• Sudden Shocks
4. Leadership Structure - conflict, illnesses, floods, storms, droughts, pests, diseases
- refers to the composition of recognized leaders in the community and the lines - pandemic
or workflow of their authority • Seasonality
• Hierarchical - prices, and employment opportunities
- top-down leadership • Critical Trends
- president – vice president - demographic, environmental, economic, governance, and technological
• Egalitarian trends
- horizontal leadership
- equal Additional:

1. Scarcity
IV. Community Economic Structure - limited resources because of increase in wants and needs
- pertains to various organized ways and means through which the people in the - look for alternative
community produce goods and services, allocate limited resources, and generate wealth 2. Market
in order to satisfy their needs and wants. - consumer and seller interact
Elements of Economic Structure 3. Demand and Supply
• Demand
1. Capital Assets - amount that a consumer is willing to buy
- refers to a property or anything that is owned and has an economic value, which • Supply
is expected to generate profit for a long period of time - ability of seller to produce
a. Human Capital • LAW OF DEMAND AND SUPPLY
- pertains to the labor force in the community and their background in terms o Determining Factors
of health, nutrition, education, knowledge and skills, capacity to work, and ▪ Price
capacity to adapt • Consumer
b. Social Capital • Supplier
- refers to the collective value of social networks and connections and
inclinations that arise in order to provide mutual support o DEMAND
c. Natural Capital ▪ Income of the consumers
- refers to land and produce, water and aquatic resources, trees, and forest ▪ Competitors
products, wildlife, biodiversity, and environmental services ▪ Advertisement
d. Physical Capital o SUPPLY
- refers to infrastructure, and tools and technology ▪ Cost of Raw Materials
- warehouse ▪ Competitors
e. Financial Capital ▪ Machines
- refers to savings, credit and debt, remittances, pensions, and wages
LESSON 3 - COMMUNITY DYNAMICS AND PROCESSES
Community Dynamics - refer to the changes that occur in the community power structures and
community population composition over time.
Community Power Structure - hierarchical interrelationships that govern the interaction of
individuals among each other within a localized group setting.
Types of Community Power Structures
1. Pluralist - In this type of community, power becomes an attribute of an individual and it is
widely distributed to the members of the community, hence , making every member roughly equal
in influence
2. Elitist - Power generally conforms to the system of hierarchical stratification and is associated
with those who possess corporate wealth and/or prestige due to traditional or religious authority.
• Class based theory
• The Growth Machine
3. Factional - Power resides in numerous interest groups that hold relatively equal power, but
they are struggling to control or dominate influence in community affairs.
4. Amorphous - Refers to seeming absence of an identifiable power structure in some
communities. Although power actor exist, they are often satisfied with the status quo such that
they are called “sleeping giants”.
Factors Affecting Changes in Community Power Structures
1. Authority - is a kind of power that one has ever another by virtue of an elected position or an
office appointment thar is based on codified laws and regulations. This is often referred to as a
formal power structure.
Ex. Mayor, vice mayor, and city councilors
2. Influence - is a kind of power that a person possesses over another by virtue of other people’s
positive perception of the former’s competence and ability. This is often referred to as informal
power structure.
Bases of Influence
1. Status - attainment of influence by virtue of family prominence, positions held, past
achievements, or personal prestige
2. Wealth - attainment of influence by virtue of using one’s money and material
resources
3. Expertise - attainment of influence by virtue of possessing hard-earned specific
knowledge and abilities
4. Charisma - attainment of influence by virtue of having unique qualities of personal
magnetism that people naturally follow, often with blind devotion.
Community Population Composition - refers to common demographic variables that describe
the size, distribution, and characteristics of the population such as age structure, educational level,
economic status, etc.
Factors Affecting Changes in Community Population Composition
1. Fertility - actual reproductive performance (number of child birth) that can be expected of a
person, couple, group, or population during a woman’s childbearing years, normally defined as
15-49 years of age.
2. Mortality - the demographic process relating to deaths, often summarized by death rates, and
life expectancy
3. Migration - refers to the process of moving from one place to another.
Leadership - refers to the process and qualities of command and decisiveness with regard to the
necessary actions that ensure the welfare of the community.
Community Leaders - are individuals selected, nominated, and appointed as stewards,
vanguards, and champions of issues relevant to a community. These individuals demonstrate
skills, capacities, and attitudes that are critical in steering the community toward their goals and
aspirations.
Social Change - refers to the alteration of social interaction, institutions, stratification systems,
and elements of culture over time. It could be manifested in the rise and fall of civilizations,
changes in the function of institutions, changes in the statuses and roles of people in society,
changes in the structures and size of families, and so on
Micro - subtle alterations in daily social interactions
Macro - gradual transformation that occurs on a wide scale which affects different
aspects of society.
Typologies Of Communities
Gemeinschaft and Gesellschaft - based on the ideal qualities of human association found in
communities.
1. Gemeinschaft (communal society)
refers to human associations that are characterized by being intimate (having face-to-face
relations), informal, caring, homogeneous, and group welfare-oriented. It is more dominant in
rural communities or tight-knit communities such as tribes and villages.
2. Gesellschaft (associational society)
pertains to human associations that are characterized by being impersonal, formal, rational,
heterogeneous, and individualistically oriented. It is more prevalent in urban communities or
industrialized societies.
Urban, Rural, Suburban, and Rurban Communities

1. Urban communities - are cities or big towns where there is large, high-dense, and
heterogeneous population.
Ex. Metro Manila
2. Rural Communities - are territorial enclaves or villages where there is a small, low-density,
and homogenous population. There are lots of open spaces for vegetation and the natural
environment.
Ex. Agricultural community in the middle of Banaue Rice Terraces
3. Suburban Communities - are residential or mixed areas located at the city outskirts or within
the commuting distance of a city.
Ex. Housing subdivisions, small 4 to 12- floor office buildings, business parks
Social Participation
Communities thrive through the association and involvement of its members. These are
exemplified in the groups and organizations within communities such as religious associations,
businesses, and neighborhoods.
Mutual Support
Communities offer its members interactions that encourage cooperation and solidarity.
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Prepared by:

4. Rurban Communities - are communities that both have urban and rural characteristics.
Ex. Urban slum communities- relocated in housing settlements found in the outskirts of rural areas
Brian Angelo Trinos

Community Sectors - refer to the subdivisions of society that represent clusters of social
institutions according to their social, economic, and political functions

Types of Community Sectors

1. Public Sector - is a term used to denote the government and its agencies. This sector is
Jillian Mae Latina
responsible for promoting the common good, providing security from external threats, and
maintaining peace and order.
2. Private Sector - is used to refer to businesses or enterprises which is responsible for producing
goods and services to meet people’s needs and wants, promoting economic growth, and generating
wealth.
3. Voluntary Sector - also known as nonprofit organizations, is a term usually reserved for NGOs,
faith-based organizations or civil society organizations that promote the development of the full
potential of human beings, safeguard their human rights, and pursue socio-civic causes for the
good of humanity and the environment.
4. For-benefit Sector - also known as for-benefit corporations, is a hybrid merger of the
characteristics found in private and public sectors.

Functions of Community

Production-Distribution-Consumption
Communities provide its members livelihood through the use of its resources and the system of
exchange embedded therein such as trade and commerce.

Socialization
Communities have processes that shape social behavior by instilling to its members norms, values,
knowledge, skills, and attitudes.

Social Control
Mechanisms within communities, such as social pressure or formal institutions, regulate the
conduct and behavior of community members.