Neighborhood_PPT

Md. Tanvir Hossain

Neighborhood is a relatively autonomous and meaningful social geographical area of residents, characterized by relatively high rates of interaction among residents. Neighborhood demands special attention of the urban studies. In everyday life, individuals are often placed within a nurturing neighborhood of friends and relatives. The ancient neighborhoods were arranged by family or clan lines, later on by religious, ethnic, or professional lines. In modern times, the divisions are largely by cultural–ethnic origin and social status. The term neighbor originated from Old English (Saxon) Neahgebūr, means (neah) near and (gebūr) dweller.

Definition 

Gottdiener and Hutchison  define ‘Any socio-spatial environment where primary relations among residents dominate’.

Carpenter and Glass – ‘A territorial group the member of which meet on common ground within their own area for primary group, social  activities and for organized and spontaneous social contacts’.

Glass – ‘A distinct territorial group, distinct by virtue of the specific physical characteristics of the area and the specific social characteristics’.

Features of Neighborhood

Gottdiener and Huthison (2011) sorted out some features of neighborhood – 

• Local residential life;
• The enjoyment of friendship, circles among people living in the same section;
• Involvement is strongly related to the life cycle;
• Found in all sectors of the metro region, city and suburbs, small and large towns.

Carmon (2010) identified some characteristics of neighborhood – 

• Continuous physical proximity among people;
• Express some special attitudes or social behaviors;
• Effective informal control system for maintaining the social order;

Nisbet (1966) mentioned some key features of neighborhood – 

• High degree of personal intimacy;
• Emotional depth;
• Moral commitment;
• Social cohesion; and
• Continuity in time.

Marshall (1998) and Abercrombie et al. (2000) cited some specifications – 

• Types of population settlements;
• Fairly close family-like ties with one another;
• Ideal-typical ways of life;
• Social networks, whose members share some common characteristics.

Hillery (?) distinguished some features –

• Geographical area;
• Self-sufficiency;
• Kinship;
• Consciousness of kind;
• Common life-styles; and 
• Intensive types of social interaction. 

Ray (2006) isolated some others as – 

• The site of close personal ties;
• Based on kinship, political, ethnic, religious, political, or other interests;
• Formed local networks and sub-cultures.

Types of Neighborhood

Warren and Warren (1977) observed that residential areas vary according to the three dimensions – 

1. Identity: How strong the sense of connectedness to place? How much do people feel they share with their neighbors?
2. Interaction: How strong are the interactive ties to neighbors? Do they visit often?
3. Linkages: Are there ties between the local neighborhood and the larger community? What is the nature of these ties?

Based on identity, interaction and linkage, there are Five types of neighborhoods – 

1. Integral;
2. Parochial;
3. Diffuse;
4. Transitory; and
5. Anomic;

Khan et al. (2006) mentioned Six types of neighborhood – 

1. The Integrated Neighborhood; 

• Cohesiveness, frequent interaction, local organization, cosmopolitanism, mobilization of resources.

2. The Anomic Neighborhood;

• Isolation, Idleness, Carelessness. 

3. The Defended Neighborhood;

• Sealed from outside intrusion, restrictive covenants (Mafia, Gangs).

4. The Contrived Neighborhood;

• Residential Homogeneity, Cultural Uniformity.

5. The Symbolic Neighborhood; 

• Ideological, Ethnic/Racial.

6. The Stage-Area Neighborhood;

• Planned, Structured.

Functions of Neighborhood

Warren and Warren (1977) mentioned Six major functions of neighborhoods – 

1. An Arena for Interaction;
2. A Center for Inter-personal Influence;
3. A Source of Mutual Aid;
4. A Base for Formal and Informal Organization;
5. A Reference Group; and 
6. A Status Area.

Approaches of Neighborhood 

Khan et al. (2006) mentioned Four approaches of neighborhood – 

A. The Ecological Approach

• Ecological Position;
• Physical Characteristics

B. The Resource Approach

• Stores Area.
• Housing Area.
• School Area.
• Club Area.
• Office Area

C. The Symbolic Approach

• Social.
• Religious.
• Cultural

D. The Sub-Cultural Approach

• Ethnic.
• Racial.

References 

• Abercrombie, N., Hill, S. and Turner, B. S. 2000. Penguion Dictionary of Sociology (4th ed.). Penguin Books Ltd., Harmondsworth
• Flanagan, W. G. 2010. Urban Sociology: Images and Structure. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., Maryland
• Gottdiener, M. and Hutchison, R. 2011. The New Urban Sociology (4th ed.). Westview Press, Colorado
• Gottdiener, M. and Hutchison, R. 2000. The New Urban Sociology (2nd ed.). Westview Press, Colorado
• Marshall, G. 1998. Oxford Dictionary of Sociology (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Ray, L. 2006. Neighborhood. In: Turner, B. S. (eds.) The Cambridge Dictionary of Sociology. Cambridge University Press, New York
• Warren, R. and Warren, D. I. 1977. The Neighborhood Organizer’s Handbook. Notre Dame University Press, Notre Dame