Social well‐being and community

Abstract An interactionist perspective is used to show the influence of community in the well‐being of people. Well‐being is discussed in terms of the humanist concept of self‐actualization. The thesis is developed that sustenance adequacy and community are social conditions which encourage emergence of the self‐actualization motive. Hypotheses are presented concerning the contributions of various community types to social well‐being. Community development is defined in interactional terms, and strategies of community development to encourage social well‐being are suggested.