While often community is perceived to represent space and place, such as a geographic region, in actuality it can move beyond that. Rather, community can be non-spatial; it can be concerned with identity, social bonds, feelings, and interactions (Mooney & Neal, 2008). For example, a group of individuals who share the same religious beliefs can be considered a community. Thus, within a definition of community, emphasize can be placed heavily on commonality and social cohesion among a group of individuals. Often, the term community provides individuals with feelings of comfort, safety, and identity, and thus it is frequently viewed in a positive light (Bauman, 2001). However, boundaries and assignment demonstrate the negative aspects of community. According to Mooney & Neal (2008), developing connections with others through identity and space and place involves individuals defining what they are and are not; therefore, community can be exclusionary. Differences in identity, such as ethnicity and socio-economic levels, can force boundaries between communities. Furthermore, while some individuals choose to identify with a specific non-spatial community, others can be assigned to them due to shared characteristics, such as
While often community is perceived to represent space and place, such as a geographic region, in actuality it can move beyond that. Rather, community can be non-spatial; it can be concerned with identity, social bonds, feelings, and interactions (Mooney & Neal, 2008). For example, a group of individuals who share the same religious beliefs can be considered a community. Thus, within a definition of community, emphasize can be placed heavily on commonality and social cohesion among a group of individuals. Often, the term community provides individuals with feelings of comfort, safety, and identity, and thus it is frequently viewed in a positive light (Bauman, 2001). However, boundaries and assignment demonstrate the negative aspects of community. According to Mooney & Neal (2008), developing connections with others through identity and space and place involves individuals defining what they are and are not; therefore, community can be exclusionary. Differences in identity, such as ethnicity and socio-economic levels, can force boundaries between communities. Furthermore, while some individuals choose to identify with a specific non-spatial community, others can be assigned to them due to shared characteristics, such as