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Beyond Values — the Relationship Between Needs and Social Cohesion
Plot twist. I’m 6 months into a PhD.
My insatiable curiosity about the strangeness of folks has hopefully got an outlet now, because here I am researching communities and social cohesion. To be specific — how community gardens play a role in strengthening social cohesion.
So I invite you to come on a little journey with me that is only slightly related to my academic pursuits, and an awful lot to do with observations and thinking processes that sit behind my research.
But first.
Picture this.
It’s school holidays. It’s spring, but the weather is warmer than usual.
No wind. Sun is out.
Families are enjoying long days by the seaside.
Nice, right?
Well. Let’s throw in some deviant behaviour. Because let’s be honest, this is Scotland. And when the sun comes out, everyone loses their mind.
This phenomenon is known as ‘taps aff’ — the sheer excitement expressed through the act of shedding our shirts for the sole purposes of sunbathing / enjoying the clement weather. And when this happens, alongside our shirts, it appears we lose our sense of social responsibility.