From sense of community to community orientation action:Community trust as a key issue

Referring to McMillan and Chavis (1986) and Proshansky (1983), this article spans the body of literature on the concepts of a sense of community and place identity, examining such key questions as belonging and agency in the community. It goes on to explore community identity and orientation, arguing that trust in the community is the key consideration when it comes to studying these concepts. The authors then examine the concept of orientation towards action in the community, through a specially constructed scale which identifies trust as the central factor. This scale (CAO), allows the dimension of trust, independent factor of community wellbeing and of identity (Arcidiacono, Di Napoli and Sarnacchiaro 2007a; 2007b), to be introduced as a key element in interventions directed towards building up the community. Finally, it is shown that trust is a useful dimension through which to understand complex and sometimes contradictory bonds between the individual and the territorial community.