Sociology
Reza Safarishali
Abstract
The sustainability of any human society depends on the level of social capital. The present article analyzes the social capital among Iranian people according to the findings of national surveys (2015, 2018 and 2021). The results show a decrease in social capital in some dimensions (especially ...
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The sustainability of any human society depends on the level of social capital. The present article analyzes the social capital among Iranian people according to the findings of national surveys (2015, 2018 and 2021). The results show a decrease in social capital in some dimensions (especially in the areas related to institutional and organizational trust and satisfaction). The state of social capital in the mentioned areas in the range of 0 to 100 has reached an average score of 36.75 in 2021 from a score of 43.50 in 2015; According to the "contagion theory", such conditions are effective in reducing hope for the social future and lowering the positive outlook towards the future of the society, and therefore, according to the "compensation theory", people invest in individual and interpersonal fields and try to to invest for their individual or group future, which shows the formation of a kind of island social capital. Of course, the important point is that social communication for virtual space, as well as professional and union relations and common interests instead of kinship and clan social capital, etc., is showing a change in some forms and relations of today's society.Keywords: Social Capital, Social Trust, Institutional Trust, Hope for the Future, Social Relations. IntroductionA comprehensive understanding of the conditions, trends, causes, processes, contexts, and factors that either strengthen or weaken social capital is a fundamental and preliminary step in the process of assessing and strategically managing this social and political foundation. However, the main issue, according to studies conducted on social capital in our country, is that in recent years, the primary dimensions and components of social capital (such as participation, trust, and hope for the future) have decreased. For instance, social and political trust within the society in 1400 AH (2021 AD) has declined compared to surveys conducted in 1394 and 1397 AH. Despite this decline, the significance of social capital cannot be overlooked. An encouraging aspect is the emergence of new forms of social interaction based on virtual spaces, as well as professional, occupational, and shared interest-based relationships, which are gradually replacing kinship and tribal-based social capital. This shift indicates a transformation in certain forms of interaction and social relations within contemporary society.Literature ReviewThe Legatum Institute is one of the international organizations that measures social capital. The institute conducts global and regional assessments of countries. According to the Legatum Prosperity Index 2021, Iran ranked 89th globally (among 167 countries) and 8th in the Middle East in terms of social capital. Safari Shali and Ghafari (2017 and 2021) conducted two consecutive waves of a national survey titled 'Assessment of Social Capital in Iran'. The findings revealed that levels of social capital at the micro and Middle levels were more prevalent than at the macro level in both waves. The national-level assessment of social capital indicated a downward trend across all three levels, with scores (on a scale of 1 to 100) of 50.43, 36.25, and 36.75 in 2015, 2017, and 2021, respectively. A relevant foreign study by the UK Statistics Authority (2020) reported an 11% decline in trust in the national government in the UK by autumn 2019.MethodologyThis study employs a holistic, documentary approach to conduct a secondary analysis of social capital in the country, utilizing data from multiple waves (2015, 2018, and 2021) of national social capital surveys. While the findings, presented in subsequent sections, are categorized into broad themes, the study's statistical population encompasses individuals aged 16 and above, both male and female, residing in all 31 provinces of the country. Data was collected using researcher-developed questionnaires that adhered to rigorous reliability and validity standards, ensuring the robustness of the findings. The sample size for each wave ranged between 12,000 and 17,000 individuals, with a deliberate effort to ensure that each provincial sample was representative of its respective population.ResultsIt is noteworthy that, globally, countries rarely exhibit an average social capital score exceeding 50 (in the range of 1-100). To understand the trends in social capital findings within the country (in the years 2015, 2018, and 2021), we will first present descriptive findings of social capital at various levels.Table 1. Analysis of Social Capital Levels Across Different Waves in the CountryDomain (1-100)Average of Social Capital20212018201527.2533.2538.75Macro Level37.2539.7548.00Middle Level45.7535.2544.00Micro Level36.7536.2543.50OverallResults from the social profile of social capital, measured at the country level based on demographic variables, indicated that individuals residing in "smaller cities (less populated cities)", "women", those in the "55+ age group", individuals with "low literacy or high school diplomas", "retirees", and "married individuals" exhibited higher levels of social capital compared to other groups.DiscussionIn sum, the most critical role of social capital is to foster law-abiding behavior and a culture of order and security. This means that citizens are aware of their social rights and obligations and refrain from violating them. Such a practice ensures the survival of the law and prevents a tendency toward disorder, norm-breaking, and lawlessness. Nonconformity, as a social problem, threatens social health and erodes social capital, leading to the formation of distrust in institutions. Acceptance of social norms and regulations increases empathy, unity, and reduces social conflict.It can be argued that in the absence of social capital, civic ethics, community, altruism, and humanitarianism lose their credibility and prestige. If individuals and social groups are also morally dysfunctional, they become confused about identifying goals and means of achieving them. They experience a conflict between theoretical and practical ethics and do not act based on norms and rules. Consequently, they lose the motivation to participate in public affairs. Conclusionstrengthening social capital today requires social and cultural policymaking. Thus, governmental and non-governmental policymaking organizations in this area should make every effort to enhance social capital indicators (trust, sense of security, participation, satisfaction, joy and hope, sense of national belonging, etc.) in the process of socialization. Accordingly, fundamental actions should be taken in the following areas in a process-oriented manner:In a general overview, strategies and solutions for social capital can be categorized into three levels:Strategies and solutions aimed at formal institutions and structuresStrategies and solutions aimed at the community and civil societyStrategies and solutions aimed at intermediary social institutions and mechanismsAcknowledgmentsI would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Country's Social Affairs Organization and the Research Deputy of Kharazmi University, as well as to all project collaborators, from the scientific council to all field researchers in 31 provinces, for their invaluable contributions. Special thanks are extended to the project's scientific advisor, Dr. Gholamreza Ghaffari, and to the translator of this extended abstract, Mr. Pejman Barkhordari.
Cultural Studies
Reza Safarishali
Abstract
The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between social body acceptance and cultural capital and the tendency towards cosmetic surgery. The study was conducted through a survey, and the population included all the 15-54-year-old women living in Malayer in 2016. The sample size estimated ...
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The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between social body acceptance and cultural capital and the tendency towards cosmetic surgery. The study was conducted through a survey, and the population included all the 15-54-year-old women living in Malayer in 2016. The sample size estimated through the Cochran formula was 656, and the sample was selected by simple random and multiphase cluster sampling method. The descriptive results showed that women had a high tendency towards cosmetic surgery (46.5). At the medium level, they posessed cultural capital (37.63), and on the average to upward level (39.7), they desired to be accepted. The regression results showed that from among the independent variables, the dimensions of cultural capital (i.e., objectified, embodied, and institutionalized) and social body acceptance (i.e., general, organizational, and peer), objectified capital (B= 0.51), general social acceptance (B= 0.49), institutionalized cultural capital (B= 0.26), and peer acceptance (B= 0.22) had the highest share in explaining the dependent variable. Furthermore, the prediction equation of the degree of women’s tendency towards cosmetic surgery could explain 58.1% of the variance of the dependent variable. The results also showed that the most common reasons for cosmetic surgery included manifested consumption, objective well-being, and social acceptance.
jafar hezar jaribi; REZA safari shali
Volume 16, Issue 46 , November 2009, , Pages 41-74
Abstract
The present paper investigates factors contributing to committing crimes among prisoners'. To fulfill the aims of the research, survey and documentary methods were used. From a methodological perspective, the present paper is ascribed to the causal co-relational category. Target population of the research ...
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The present paper investigates factors contributing to committing crimes among prisoners'. To fulfill the aims of the research, survey and documentary methods were used. From a methodological perspective, the present paper is ascribed to the causal co-relational category. Target population of the research includes prisoners of Markazi province prisons (sample size: 264). According to the results of regression analysis, the following l O variables have impact on prisoners' social deviance: " the level of perverseness in family (0.29), sense of belonging to family (-0.28), unsuitable social environment (0.26), low age at first entrance into jail (0.25), religious commitment (-0.18), unemployment (0.17), peer groups (0.10), life satisfaction (-0.10), emotional needs fulfillment in family (-0.10) and sense of deprivation (0.09) with specified regression coefficients. As the coefficients show, variables of "sense of belonging to family, religious commitment, emotional needs fulfillment, and life satisfaction" have a decreasing effect on social deviation and the rest of the variables (which have positive coefficients) have an increasing effect on social deviance. In sum, in order to have a safe society one should pay attention to different factors, among which are decreasing the level of deviance and increasing the sense of security among citizens. Different contexts of development (social, political, cultural and economic) are required for a safe society. Therefore there is no doubt in the necessity of recognition and decreasing the pathologies and the need for establishing a safe society .
