Home

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For other uses, see Home (disambiguation).

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A home in Pathanapuram, Kerala-India

A home is a place of residence or refuge.^[1] It is usually a place where an individual or a family can rest in and be able to store personal property. Modern households contain sanitary facilities and a means of preparing food.

There are certain cultures which lack permanent homes, such as with nomadic people.

1 Terminology
2 Psychological impact
3 See also
4 References
5 External links

[edit] Terminology

While a house (or other residential dwelling) is often referred to as a "home", the concept of "home" is a much broader idea which exceeds the denotation of a physical dwelling. A home is often a place of refuge and safety, where worldly cares fade and the things and people that one loves becomes the focus. Many people think of home in terms of where they grew up, and home can even be a time rather than a place.^[1] The word "home" is also used for various residential institutions which aspire to create a home-like atmosphere, such as a retirement home, a nursing home, a group home (an orphanage for children, a retirement home for adults, a treatment facility, etc.), a foster home, etc.

In computer terminology, a 'home' is a starting view that branches off into other tasks, such as a homepage or a desktop. Many home pages on the internet start with introductory information, recent news or events, and links to subpages.

[edit] Psychological impact

Since it can be said that humans are generally creatures of habit, the state of a person's home has been known to physiologically influence their behavior, emotions, and overall mental health.^{[citation needed]} For example, in the introduction to the film Patch Adams, "home sweet home", the concept of "home" is compared to the human need for peaceful sanctuary, the absence of which would lead to restlessness. Such restlessness, as can be seen by that particular case, may lead to depression and, ultimately, to a loss of sanity.^[2]

A return to home that follows an earlier abandonment is often associated with nostalgia, or a longing for the past.^{[verification needed]}