ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews the existing literature and theory related to sense of belonging yielded a fairly consistent list of core elements that deserve explanation. It identifies several core elements of sense of belonging and explains each in the context of existing literature and how it applies to the main thesis. There are he several core elements: sense of belonging is a basic human need, sense of belonging is a fundamental motive, and sufficient to drive human behaviour. Sense of belonging is one term with many meanings. A review of the extant literature revealed a litany of lists, a diversity of definitions, a menagerie of metaphors related to sense of belonging. In terms of college, sense of belonging refers to students' perceived social support on campus, a feeling or sensation of connectedness, the experience of mattering or feeling cared about, accepted, respected, valued by, and important to the group or others on campus.
