Community identity is based on birth and 'belonging' rather than on some form of acquired qualifications or 'accomplishment'. It is defined by what we 'are' rather than what we have 'become'. These identities are called 'ascriptive' because they are determined by birth and do not involve any choice on the part of the individuals concerned.

Community identity is formed through the process of socialisation. We are socialised by our immediate families and community, who teach us how to live in society. Our community provides us with the language and cultural values through which we comprehend the world. Expanding and overlapping circles of community ties, such as family, kinship, caste, ethnicity, language, region, or religion, give meaning to our world and give us a sense of identity.