Page 59 - Mike Ratner CC - WISR Complete Dissertation - v6

In his seminal 1974 book, psychologist Seymour B. Sarason proposed that psychological

sense of community become the conceptual center for the psychology of community, asserting that

it "is one of the major bases for self-definition." By 1986 it was regarded as a central overarching

concept for community psychology (Sarason, 1986; Chavis & Pretty, 1999). In addition, the

theoretical concept entered the other applied academic disciplines as part of "communities for all"

initiatives in the US. (Magrab 1999). The enticement is this want for community and conversation.

Among theories of sense of community proposed by psychologists, McMillan & Chavis's

(1986) is by far considered the most influential and is the starting point for much of the recent

research in the field. Their work will be explored and dissected in the literary review section.

Within the container of the dialogue group, members share individual ideas, and, in some

instances, formulate collective thoughts and new perspectives and understandings. Although

electric communication technologies have the capability of reproducing conditions to allow for

face-to-face dialogue among participants, the opportunities for human connection are constrained

by the realities of distance, and the limitations of constructing a collective environment prevent

the formation of the transduced Metasphere I am forwarding that’s found within the CC dynamic.

Exploring Technologies

Information and communication technologies make it possible to share knowledge, data,

opinions, and ideas at a rapid pace. Increasingly, electronic media makes it possible to link, almost

effortlessly, political and cultural communities spanning local political boundaries, creating a glass

wall inability to act beyond commenting and sharing links outside of a power gridlock. Electronic

forms of communication, although widely available, still exclude many populations and socio-

economic groups and while building consensus can disrupt or spotlight issues more is required.

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