ABSTRACT
The influence of society on the conceptualization of time was noted by Durkheim when he argued that the very concept of time is social in origin. A society's conception of time is an essential part of culture, influencing and being influenced by many other key concepts, including those of the person and proper conduct. Time images are the symbolic representations of time available to persons in a given society. For an alcoholic who envisions no real hope of returning to "normal" society and who has experienced destitution and powerlessness, the arrival of a check signifies some claim to power. The weather is, of course, a major factor in this cycle since the street people are exposed to it to a far greater extent than anyone else in American society. The relationship between time image, time orientation, purpose, and behavior is of crucial importance given the social situation in the United States.
