DEFINITION OF
COMMUNITY ACROSS
DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVES

•Social Science
Perspective

SOCIAL SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE
• “Social Science” is an umbrella term for various
fields of study which examines social relations and
human society. It views the community as composed
of people interacting with one another, sensitive to
each other’s emotions and subjective point of view.
Basically, it describes “community as a group of
people in a particular area interacting together.”

ANTHROPOLOGY
•This field examines the various aspects of
humans, such as their biology, behavior,
culture and social interactions. It may also
study how people adapt their ways of living
to different environments e.g, determining
ways to help a community solve health
related concerns.

ECONOMICS
•This field studies the production, allocation
and consumption of goods and services. In
any community, one finds various forms of
wealth distribution. The ultimate goal of
economics is to improve the lives of people,
such that their needs are satisfied.

POLITICAL SCIENCE
•the various ways and means of allocating
power, influence, decision-making. This
includes types of governments and
management systems, and how people in
small bands or informal groups make
decisions when they do not have
recognized leaders. All communities have
some forms of political system.

PSYCHOLOGY
•studies the human mind, brain, and
social behavior. This extends to
interaction between people and
interpersonal relationships. It comprises a
variety of different subfields including
abnormal psychology, developmental
psychology, cognitive psychology and
social psychology.

SOCIOLOGY
•the study of society, social
order, social interactions,
and culture. It introduces the
concepts of social capital
and communitarianism.

CIVILSOCIETY
PERSPECTIVE

•Stresses the idea of forming a group,
foundation or an organization in service
to society. This perspective views
society as a community of citizens
linked by common interests and
collective activity.

Groups of people come together
regardless of location, and organize
plans to render support and
assistance to society.

Groups of people come together
regardless of location, and organize
plans to render support and
assistance to society.

•Local and Grassroots
Perspectives

•This perspective highlights volunteerism.
Members of communities may involve
themselves in various programs or activities. The
community uses self organization and
encourages the local citizens to contribute to the
community by taking responsibilities and actions.

Leaders and other members identify the
sources of concerns in a local setting and
determine ways to address these problems.
Volunteers are mobilized in cooperation
with government decision-makers who will
be accountable for their actions. The
community also formulates programs for
others, and employs actions according to
the needs of the community.

•A concrete example of this is when
doctors and dentists in different
communities come together to
organize medical and dental
missions especially for families
affected by calamities.

Institutional
Perspective

•It is an existing
establishment or
physical space
where members of
the community go for
a certain purpose.
FIRST
DIMENSION

•This is defined by
networks and institutions
where community group
are formed in certain
areas such as schools,
churches or companies.
SECOND
DIMENSION

•Community is
composed of the ways
people act, interact
with each other, react,
and expect each other
to act and interact.
THIRD
DIMENSION

Discipline Definition Role in the
Community
Fill-up the table below. Write the discipline in social
sciences, its definition and its role in the study of community.