Community
Also known as collective, fellowship, tribe
The need to be part of a group of people with shared values, practices, or circumstances. A sense of collective identity and mutual support beyond individual relationships.
When met or unmet
When met
- Part of a group with shared identity
- Common purpose with others
- Collective belonging
When unmet
- No tribe or community
- Isolated individualism
- Missing shared identity
Common expressions
I need my community I miss having a tribe These are my people
Strategies
- Joining groups organised around shared interests or values
- Participating actively rather than just passively belonging
- Contributing to community wellbeing, not just receiving from it
- Creating community rituals, traditions, and gathering points
Recognition questions
- → Do I feel part of any collective larger than my immediate relationships?
- → Is there a group that would notice if I disappeared?
- → Am I contributing to community or only consuming from it?
Somatic markers
When met
- A sense of being held by something larger
- Relaxation into shared identity
- Energy from collective gathering
When unmet
- Isolation even in crowds
- Longing for a people to belong to
- Feeling like a permanent outsider
Shadow side
- Groupthink that suppresses individual discernment
- Tribalism that creates hostility toward outsiders
- Losing yourself in collective identity
Cultural considerations
Community structures vary widely: geographic, religious, professional, virtual, ancestral. Urbanisation and mobility have transformed community forms.
Related needs
Often confused with
Belonging
Belonging can be to an individual or small group; community specifically involves collective identity with shared values.