Communion

Communion, a fundamental dimension of social functioning, involves having a good relationship with others by being warm, compassionate, and cooperative. In contrast to agency, which is about getting ahead and achieving individual goals, communion represents the desire to form bonds, be part of a larger social unit, and find fulfillment through relationships. Communion is about prioritizing the interests of others and seeking to integrate into a social unit. Individuals experience fulfillment through close relationships and a sense of belonging. The agency and communion framework is used in psychology to understand:

• Social judgment, how people judge themselves and others.
• Personality traits, sex-role socialization, and self-concept.
• Motivation, such as the drive for individual achievement versus the desire for social connection.