The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2 - 46

Burns B . Crookston

Social Contract
From the view of human development there are two essential functions of an IDC: (1) the creation of conditions that foster the actualization of the individual, and (2) the creation of conditions that actualize the community. Accordingly, the relationship between the individual and the community must be symbiotic, or mutually enhancing; as the individual contributes to the enrichment of the community, so the community is able to enrich the individual (Crookston, 1972, 1973a,b). This idea of a social contract is far from new; it formed the basis for much of the thinking that led to the establishment of American democracy. In the social contract the individual gives some power to the community, which, in turn, protects rights, provides for the security, and promotes the welfare of the individual. When the individual surrenders this power, John Locke (Everyman’s Library, 1924) emphasized, it is not

to another individual (like a king or president), but to the community as a whole. By giving of one’s self to the community, said Jean-Jacques Rousseau (Everyman’s Library, 1913), the community and the individual become one and the same. Thus the people transfer their freedom and power as individuals to themselves as a collectivity. In the intentional residential community, therefore, the social contract must go beyond the typical pro forma housing contract that the individual will abide by the rules and pay for any damages; it must be a deliberated agreement of all participants, be they students, faculty, staff, or others to commit the self to the community—the goals, the members, the functions—and to work actively toward the fulfillment of the community and as a consequence, toward the actualization of self (since by definition the community becomes an extension of the self). The social contract should not be confused with other agreements for special services between the community and staff participants, with the college or other external groups or agencies (see 5, below). These are prior agreements by the community related to chartering (meeting legal requirements, university, or outside community policies or regulations), or to later functional relationships or services once the community is underway.

This idea of a social contract is far from new; it formed the basis for much of the thinking that led to the establishment of American democracy . In the social contract the individual gives some power to the community, which, in turn, protects rights, provides for the security, and promotes the welfare of the individual .

Primary Groups
Cooley’s (1909) definition of primary groups as “those characterized by intimate face-toface association and cooperation” needs little amplification today. A primary group is one that satisfies the basic human needs of its members—for belonging, security, affection, acceptance, adequacy—and through which

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THE JOURNAL OF COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITy STUDENT HOUSING
The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of The Journal of College and University Student Housing - Volume 36, No. 2
