رسانه
Erfan Naseri; Ehsan Aqababaee; Masoud Kianpur; Alireza Sayyad
Abstract
Lived-experience is a concept according to which the sociological understanding of film is made possible by a phenomenological approach. This research has been done with the aim of understanding embodiment and self-experience in the symbolic life-world of film with the method of descriptive phenomenology ...
Read More
Lived-experience is a concept according to which the sociological understanding of film is made possible by a phenomenological approach. This research has been done with the aim of understanding embodiment and self-experience in the symbolic life-world of film with the method of descriptive phenomenology and thematic analysis. Six Iranian films were selected from the 1980s to the 2010s using by intensity sampling, which are: Maybe Another Time, Hamun, Passengers, Unruled Paper, Bright Nights and Subdued. According to the research results in the 1980's the female body has no independent domain and is constituted in another absurd (male) mental framework. The female body is an object that is extinguished under the gaze of another and self is recovered by another. In the 1990s, the duality of self/other is drawn to the collective realm, and subjects are constituted in the duality of technique/collective intersubjectivity. The body and the self are recovered in the collective intersubjective frame, and the nature of the technique in the forgery of subjects is revealed. In the 2000s, the embodiment of the subjects is drawn to the realm of confrontation/transition, the embodied action of the woman passes through the absurd body of the man and leaves her in an abandoned world. In the 2010s, the contrast fades and the subjects are constituted in a form of co-embodiment. The collective bond merges with the fast-food physicality and the sensitivity of the female body, and the subject experiences herself in the metamorphic form of the house.
Social Problems in Iran
Nariman Mohammadi; Masoud Kianpour; Ehsan Aqababaee
Abstract
In this study, we have critically looked into the Iranian Kurds' constructed uppressedness on Facebook. Our theoretical idea is that the logic of virtual capitalism prevailing on Kurdish Facebook- Like in other spaces- is dominant and different ideologies, including nationalism, confiscate various Kurdish-related ...
Read More
In this study, we have critically looked into the Iranian Kurds' constructed uppressedness on Facebook. Our theoretical idea is that the logic of virtual capitalism prevailing on Kurdish Facebook- Like in other spaces- is dominant and different ideologies, including nationalism, confiscate various Kurdish-related statuses in their own interests. The research method is virtual critical ethnography and Kurdish Facebook is selected as the study field. Sampling method is Mixed Purposive Sampling (Various sampling techniques such as Network sampling, snowball sampling, and theoretical sampling). Data were obtained from 39 unstructured interviews, field notes and from 8 months of participatory observation, 13 months of non-participatory observation, 6,000 Facebook images and 112 videos posted on Facebook. To analyze the data, we used the Constructivist Grounded Theory method. Findings show that Kurdish uppressedness on Facebook is confiscated by ideology. That is, the ideology of nationalism constructs a form of premordial ethnic euphoria stolen by the Black Other, and finally offers the possibility of reclaiming it. From the nationalistic point of view, emancipation is possible only by following the Facebook subject of ideological ideas of nationalism. Meanwhile, the ideology of nationalism not only does not end the uppressedness, but already reproduces of a new form of uppressedness. Overall, we see birth of uppressedness and Janus of Emancipation in Kurdish Facebook.
Culture
Zohre Azizabadi; Masoud Kianpour
Abstract
Introduction A sociology of religious emotions in Iranian studies becomes important due to the fact that we are living in a religious society. Up until now, in the domain of sociology of religion, there has not been enough attention to the emotional dimension of religious ...
Read More
Introduction A sociology of religious emotions in Iranian studies becomes important due to the fact that we are living in a religious society. Up until now, in the domain of sociology of religion, there has not been enough attention to the emotional dimension of religious experience. This research takes a sociological approach toward emotions, and especially, it aims to interpret religious emotions of two groups of university students. Qualitative method has been used for this research through in-depth interviews with 12 members of Student Basij Organization and Nahad Rahbari in Tehran University. One of the notable concepts that can be applied to understand religious emotions is the term “emotional regime”, introduced by Linda Woodhead and Ole Riis (2010). Emotional regime emphasizes the dialectical relation among “individual”, “society” and “symbol”. From this relation, 12 processes can be produced with six processes representing a balanced model and six processes representing an unbalanced situation. When the model is balanced, it can be considered as a cycle entailing processes such as “consecration”, “subjectification”, “externalization” and “internalization”, “objectification”, “insignation”. In an unbalanced situation, the model contains processes such as“ultra- consecration”, “ultra-subjectification”, and “ultra-externalization”, “ultra-internalization”, ultra-objectification”, “ultra-insignation. This emotional regime model highlights the role of symbols in shaping religious emotions. Therefore, in this study researchers used this concept to interpret religious emotions of university students. Materials and Methods We have applied a qualitative method to explore religious emotions. The research field is Tehran and research subjects include the active members of “Student Basij Organization and Nahad Rahbari”. The data was gathered using in-depth interviews. Theoretical sampling was applied to collect new cases. The process of sampling continued until reaching theoretical saturation, which occurred after the seventh case was interviewed but sampling continued up to 12th case. For analyzing the data, directed content analysis was used. The words of all respondents were interpreted and evaluated, and then all elements of the model were distinguished and represented. Discussion of Results and Conclusions The result of data analysis shows that the emotional regime of the studied students inclines towards ultra-subjectification. That is, a situation in which religious symbols are considered as something powerful (not a man-made object) with the potential to stimulate and rise religious emotions dramatically. Students experience severe religious emotions in relation to three different religious symbols, namely “animate”, “inanimate” and “semi-animate” symbols. For example, all respondents believed in the healing power of the Karbala soil and other objects and fabrics bounded to the shrine of the Imams. Although this model is very notable for interpreting religious emotions, it has some restrictions. This article tried to address some of these problems. For example, it should be noted that although by highlighting emotions as an integral part of social explanation, this model tries to give emotions their deserved role; it has a rather mechanical approach towards emotions. But having a closer look, it is clear that this model is rooted in Durkheimian and Parsonsian approaches that highlight the role of social structure for shaping emotions. In Woodhead and Riis’s model, the community imposes emotional structures on individuals through processes such as internalization and insignation. So we believe other approaches that start from a micro level are needed to complete this model.
رسانه
Elaheh Shabani Afarani; Masoud Kianpour; Soheila Sadeghi Fasae
Abstract
Introduction
Mobile technology has been turned into one of the most important aspects of everyday life. It is considered as the most controversial technology that has become the integral part of mainstream family, and has led to noticeable changes in norms, values, and structures of the family. While ...
Read More
Introduction
Mobile technology has been turned into one of the most important aspects of everyday life. It is considered as the most controversial technology that has become the integral part of mainstream family, and has led to noticeable changes in norms, values, and structures of the family. While there is a wealth of research into family relationships and mobile phone separately, minimal attention is paid to the mobile phone’s interplay with the context of family life. Mobile phone provides people with a life style which is accompanied by emerging limitations and opportunities. Individualism and privacy are two important outcomes of mobile phone use that affect the family the most. In this research, we study the process of mobile phone adaptation in the family by concentrating on the relationship between parents-children and husband-wife in Isfahan City.
According to the last census provided by the main Iranian telecommunication company, the penetration rate of mobile phone in Iran is 115%. Also, more than half of the mobile SIM card holders use Smartphone and are engaged in social messaging apps. In Isfahan, as stated by the official news agencies, the rate of mobile phone penetration is 88.5%. Although Isfahan has a rich traditional and religious heritage, nowadays it is experiencing considerable changes in the realm of family life. According to the comparison made by the central registration office of Isfahan, the rate of divorce has increased, the rate of fertility has declined, the average age of marriage has increased, and the marriage rate has fallen in 2016.
In the current era, family life is changing so drastically due to the external and internal factors that some theoreticians talk about “the death of the family”. ICTs and especially mobile phones are an important part of the process of family change. Although normally people bring mobile phone to their family as a device of caring and controlling, the effects of mobile phone usage are much further.
The way a person perceives mobile phone, uses it to communicate with family members and others, and benefits from it as a source of information technology; shape the image of the person in the family. It means, family members judge each other according to the way one member uses their mobile phone.
While some may postulate that mobile phone influences are pulling family members apart, others contend that mobile phone has become an integral part of mainstream family life that can have positive as well as negative effects on family.
Family and its wellbeing is a top priority in all societies. A society will not succeed unless the family performs its functions effectively. For this reason, it is critical to discover how mobile phone may affect the process of family change.
Materials and Methods
The exploratory nature of the study requires an inductive technique used in qualitative researches. We applied grounded theory strategy, and conducted semi-structured interviews with people, including parents, couples and single adults above 16 years of age. The participants explained whether or not (and if so how) mobile phones have impacted their family life and relationships. Data was analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding and then arranged in a paradigm-based model and a narrative line. According to theoretical sampling, we selected new cases to compare with cases that have been already studied. This provides a sample with adequate cases that can lead to theoretical generalization and construction of theory. Data saturation determined the final sample. The data for the study was obtained from 42 deep interviews that lasted between 60 to 90 minutes, during December 2015 to May 2016 in Isfahan city.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
Asking about the role of mobile phone in the family, respondents talk about both pleasant and unpleasant aspects of mobile phone usage. They believe mobile phone is a very useful technology to connect family members when they are away from each other. In contrast, when family members at present at home, challenges over mobile phone use arise. Here is a short summary of the main categories of the research.
At the end of coding process, we selected “the culture of mobile phone phobia” as the core category. This theme lies on two aspects. On the one hand, some of the family members worry about the negative effects of mobile phone culture on family, like wives’ fear of their husbands’ access to pornographic themes through mobile phone. On the other hand, others were afraid that mobile phone culture may limit their individual rights and liberties. For example, some respondents found it unpleasant that family members can contact them anytime and anywhere when they are not at home. The causal conditions that shape the core category include “mobile phone etiquette/anti etiquette” (mobile phone addiction and mobile phone privacy), “internal social capital of family” (trust, conversation and family rituals), and “mobile phone uses among family members” (instrumental/expressive and entertaining uses).
Contextual conditions including “gender”, “information-communication capital” (access and accessories), “value consensus” and “digital divide”; and intervening conditions such as “family structure” (power structure and demographics), and “pre/post marriage factors” shape the strategies that family members employ to manage this phenomenon. These strategies are named: “controlling cycle of mobile phone”, “preventing challenges of mobile phone use”, “digital bedroom”, and “stereotyping” (age and gender based stereotypes).
The outcomes of this process demonstrate that according to the family contexts mentioned above, mobile phone may play a role in family life in dualities of: disruptive/facilitating, integrating/ dispersive, controlling/emancipating, creating/losing the opportunities, hiding/revealing, and creating expectations/responsibilities.
Findings of this study show that as an information-communication technology, mobile phone carries a variety of meanings and implications that leads to specific conversations and interactions in families. In this process, family members experience adaptation to mobile phone culture and try to domesticate the outcomes and effects. Therefore, mobile phone is the subject of power, negotiation, norms, rules, and battles in families.
رسانه
Ebrahim Ansari; Masoud Kianpour; Pari Ataee
Abstract
Introduction
Changes in the relationships within family is indicative of losing traditional ties between modern people. Dilution of emotional relations inside the family, between wives and husbands and their children, and superficial interactive relationships among them show that modern citizens are ...
Read More
Introduction
Changes in the relationships within family is indicative of losing traditional ties between modern people. Dilution of emotional relations inside the family, between wives and husbands and their children, and superficial interactive relationships among them show that modern citizens are not anymore attached to many of their old traditional ties. One main reason of this is communication technologies, which, like any other change caused by technology, bring about big transformations. We cannot any more see family members talking to each other during the day. Due to the importance of this issue, the present article aims at studying the influence of cyber space on oral culture, using theories of communication, family, and globalization in sociology.
Materials and Methods
This is a survey study. The research population is consisted of families who have children over 15 years of age in Isfahan city, whose number is 579302. The independent variable is use of cyber space with two criteria (quality and quantity of the use), and dependent variable is oral culture with two criteria (oral communication and exchange of oral literature among parents and children). Sample size includes 384 individuals, which was calculated using quota sampling method. A research-made questionnaires was designed and distributed among research sample after it was verified for reliability and validity tests.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions:
In this research, the effect of using cyber space on oral culture, namely, verbal communication has been studied. The hypotheses of this study were tested by structural modeling. The independent variable with two dimensions of quantity and quality of using cyber space and the dependent variable of oral communication with two dimensions of verbal communication between spouses and verbal communication between parents and their children were examined. The results showed that the quality and quantity of using cyber space have influenced oral communication and culture of family negatively, in the sense that when there is more usage of cyber space, the quality and quantity of oral communication diminish. This is so because of a lack in common aims among family members and also lack of transferring cultural traits from one generation to the next. We believe that sufficient verbal interaction between family members is necessary to transfer cultural heritage and experiences of parents to their children, providing therefore a desirable emotional atmosphere at home, which would strengthen feelings of support and protection in a way that family members, especially children, do not feel left alone. In such a situation, a collective spirit develops inside the family, which, in turn, increases trust and social capital. However, the study of our study showed that oral communication between family members has decreased compared to the past. Finally, it should be pointed out that oral culture and its advantages cannot be ignored, in the same way that the effective and beneficial role of cyber space should not be trivialized.
Ehsan Aqababaee; Masoud Kianpour
Abstract
Introduction
In recent decades social changes and developments in service sector have created an environment in which human emotions are turned into objects. This is known, in the literature of the sociology of emotions, as commodification of emotions. In Iran and after the revolution, significant changes ...
Read More
Introduction
In recent decades social changes and developments in service sector have created an environment in which human emotions are turned into objects. This is known, in the literature of the sociology of emotions, as commodification of emotions. In Iran and after the revolution, significant changes have taken place in the structure of the economy in the sense that the service sector has been expanding over the other two sections, namely, agriculture and industry. From 1997 to 2005, Iranian service sector has expanded 3.6 % on average. This trend slowed down a little bit in the early years of the 2000s but picked up its speed pretty soon. On average, between the years of 2012 and 2014, 48% of workers were in the service sector. In addition, demographic changes of the 1980s, value changes after the war in the 1990s, expansion of higher education in the 2000s, and economic crisis of nuclear sanctions in the 2010s have influenced job opportunities, income expectations, and job performance. We believe that a "hunger for making money" has intensified the process of commodification of emotions in social relationships. This phenomenon can be studied either via a positivistic approach, asking people's opinion about money and how important it is in their social life or via an interpretative approach, in which the study of popular culture's products, especially movies, can be an indicative of the above process. Therefore, the purpose of this article is to interpret representation of emotions commodification in social relationships, based on a movie named Heavy Makeup.
Keywords: commodification of emotions, narrative analysis, heavy makeup, social relations
Materials and Methods
In order to interpret how emotions are commodified in social relations, the movie Hard Makeup is chosen using maximum-discrepancy sampling method. In order to analyze the data, narrative analysis is used as a qualitative method belonging to the interpretive paradigm. Ontologically, narrative analysis is idealistic and epistemologically it is subjective. Moreover, it studies narrative genres and systematic narrating, and is a popular research method in cinema studies. In the present article, narrative analysis is applied at two levels of story and discourse to analyze the context of the movie. At the level of the story, representation of acts and personalities will be considered and at the level of discourse, the orientation of the movie towards these two levels will be explored.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
This article aimed at analyzing commodification of emotions in social relations using a movie as an example. In doing so, the theory of Arlie Hochschild, an American sociologist and feminist, in the area of sociology of emotions was utilized to see how this process takes place. The results show that the discourse of Heavy Makeup represents a service-based economy in which actors are expected to rely on their emotions as a source of capital, utilizing it in economic transactions and social relationships in order to make profit. In other words, this discourse employs a storyline which shows all characters, who work in the service sector, perform "emotional labor" so they can bring their emotions in line with the requirements of their jobs and achieve their goals. In this way, feeling rules of such jobs require that job holders sell their emotions, not because of institutionalized and regulatory nature of work procedures, but because of over individualization of work process. This selling is in fact a sort of gambling over emotions in which obtaining money is the ultimate purpose. From the view of the discourse of the movie, none of the characters eventually reach their goals in the commodification process and fail miserably.
Social Problems in Iran
abdolhossein kalantari; masood kianpour; vahid mazidi sharaf abadi; mojtaba lashgari
Abstract
IntroductionWith attention to scarcity of natural renewable supplies and necessity of more convergence between human and nature, exploring related factors in order to decrease environmental footprints of human is essential. Human society has been shaped in natural environment, and then interactions between ...
Read More
IntroductionWith attention to scarcity of natural renewable supplies and necessity of more convergence between human and nature, exploring related factors in order to decrease environmental footprints of human is essential. Human society has been shaped in natural environment, and then interactions between human and environment are as crucially important as his interactions with other humans and sociology should give precise attentions to this level of social interactions. From sociological standpoint, humanâs emotion and behavior come into emergence as a recent and unique domain. Since in urban communities, the relationship between these two areas seems to be detached and as a result, sense of belonging towards nature has been decreasing, exploring relationships between natural and human realms has an undeniable impact on controlling human behavior toward nature. Because, for as much as environmental problems profoundly have social concepts, then taking into account the middle level variables such as sense of belonging as a part of environmental attitudes can determine types and qualities of human behaviors toward environmental issues. Emotions are under the influence of culture, values and human interactions and are basically produced by social situations. Examining sense of belonging (emotions related to attachment, calmness and feeling of being united with nature and environmental issues) among Tehran residents can provide a theoretical approach and social policy strategy.                                                                                   Material and Methods Emotions are considered as an essential linkage between micro and macro level of social reality. In this research, religiosity and environmental values emphasize cultural necessity of positivism approach, environmental socialization emphasizes on human interaction aspect of social construction approach, and experience of connection with nature highlights sense of belonging toward nature through place experience. This research uses sectional survey and questionnaire, in order to examine the question of research. Sample Population size of research calculated based on Cochran formula and selected with Random stratified sampling among all above 18 years old citizens of Tehran. Alphaâs coefficients of variables were confirmed in preliminary test.  Discussion of Results and Conclusions Mean of sense of belonging measure among Tehran residents is in upper medium level. Bivariate relationships of environmental values, experience of connection with nature, environmental socialization and religiosity with dependent variable are confirmed statistically significant, although relationships between socio-economic variables (age, sex, education and place of birth) with dependent variable were not significant. The explanatory model could explain 48 percent of dependent variable's variation among the research sample. Furthermore, Path analysis of Independent variables with dependent variable shows that the experience of connection with nature with 0.617 percent and environmental values with 0.346 percent respectively have highest effects on dependent variable. As most researches, this one also shows emotional aspect of attitudes toward nature in parallel with cognitive aspect is strongly under the influence of social factors. However some researchers believe place of birth can determine types of emotions, but in this research it did not reaffirmed because the experience of connection with nature has more reliable notion for us. Insignificant relationships about education and socio-economic index with dependent variable present dysfunctional role of educational systems and class relations in internalizing pro-environment emotions. Examining relationships between aspects of religiosity and dependent variable show the sense of belonging toward nature is mainly under the influence of ethical aspect, because function of ethical aspect of religion is partly in relation with objective issues such as environmental one. About dependent variable which has an ethical aspect, answering pattern could have inclined toward pretense to depict an ideal self-image.
Social Problems in Iran
Masoud Kianpour; Lida Nasseri
Volume 26, Issue 2 , May 2015, , Pages 59-76
Abstract
Introduction Due to its climate conditions and strategic location, Iran has been a path for crossing different ethnic groups and tribes as well as a place of interaction among different cultures with diverse ethnic backgrounds during history. Ethnicity shows the way of belonging to a group and includes ...
Read More
Introduction Due to its climate conditions and strategic location, Iran has been a path for crossing different ethnic groups and tribes as well as a place of interaction among different cultures with diverse ethnic backgrounds during history. Ethnicity shows the way of belonging to a group and includes knowledge of historical roots and common traditions. In Iran, ethnic diversity and heterogeneity has sometimes reduced social integrity, particularly in the era of nation-state and nationalism. On the other hand, Iranian national character has provided a possibility for migratory and invasive cultures to merge with each other and be adjusted to new circumstances, appropriate to Iranian culture. May it is because of this reason that we can see different ethnic groups with specific behaviors, morality, beliefs and ideologies common within that group, coexisting in the cultural system and social structure of Iran. Considering the fact that ethnic judgments stem from attitudes towards these groups, studying and investigating them can help knowing cognitive biases people have with regard to ethnicity. After all, our aim is to eliminate stereotypical thoughts based on ethnic discrimination so we can also move towards the elimination of barriers on the path of fair distribution of national wealth and facilities. One of the important elements of realizing national development and reinforcement of social coordination is the existence of a space in which different ethnic groups can have respectful interactions with one another, in spite of differences among them. Accordingly, research subjects in this study include students living in dormitories of the University of Isfahan because the ethnic diversity in these dormitories is rich. Thus it would be possible to find students belonging to different ethnic groups from across the country. To sum up, the main purpose of this study is to investigate the stereotypical thoughts and attitudes of university students related to different Iranian ethnic groups with a qualitative approach. Materials & Methods The present study is conducted in a hermeneutic / interpretative research paradigm, using a qualitative methodology. The method of data collection is semi-structured interviews using an interview guide, i.e. a list of questions which are followed in a particular sequence, but in case of raising attractive and suitable points during interviews, the interviewer has freedom to ask unpredicted further questions. The method of sampling is purposive sampling with maximum diversity and heterogeneity. In this strategy, the researcher starts by identifying individuals who have information related to the research topic and are called the informed, and then similar individuals are selected purposively in such a way that all individuals enter the research in a sequence or in terms of one or several dimensions. One of the reasons of using this method is that nobody can claim that the researcher has not considered particular types of cases. The process of sampling in qualitative research usually continues as far as new interviews cannot add to previous information and the researcher observes repetitive patterns of data. In addition, data analysis is based on thematic analysis in which coding process continues in three stages of open, axial, and selective coding. In the present study, ethnic diversity includes 6 groups (Lor, Fars, Tork, Arab, and Baloch). The process of sampling continued up to 30 cases and then, the researchers observed theoretical data saturation. Discussion of Results and Conclusions In spite of the ethnic diversity of Iran, the people of this land have represented a kind of national integrity and collective idea. Along this national integrity, which is one of the most important factors of survival in each crisis, Iranian national identity has evolved. Yet, there are some specific differences among different ethnic groups. The results of the study show that ethnic autonomy, attitudinal ambivalence, and stereotypical thoughts may lead to a kind of ethnic exclusiveness whose result is the emphasis of each of different ethnic groups on their own particular characteristics and defining an integrated ethnic identity with emphasis on inter-ethnic priority while representing some cliché and stereotypical thoughts about other ethnic groups. On the other hand, showing respect towards other ethnic groups, the existence of several types of ethnic integrity and interethnic relations, and considering ethnic jokes obscene or morally wrong, are a second category of codes, leading us to think of a kind of ethnic diversity. Therefore, it is possible to talk of ethnic exclusiveness and ethnic diversity at the same time among subjects interviewed in this study. We suggest that for eliminating the barriers of ethnic discrimination and injustice, and creating a justice-oriented society in which each ethnic group can utilize national facilities and actualize its own potentiality, in addition to cherish and respect unique ethnic features, we should educate people about the benefits of ethnic diversity and pluralism from as early as within the families and during school years. After all, these are the institutions in which socialization takes place. Certainly, these fateful childhood years shape one's identity. Children should be taught a kind of attitude that says all people in this society belong to a single nation as a whole. In addition, the critical task of the government is to create an appropriate ground and fair access to national resources for full participation of everybody so that no member of ethnic groups feel deprived of national resources and no flaw hit the sense of national identity.
Ghasemi Vahid; Ghasemi Vahid; Masoud Kianpour; Forough Kazemi
Volume 25, Issue 4 , November 2014, , Pages 91-111
Abstract
Introduction
Today's world, recognized as "the age of information", is a world in which media has penetrated into all and each aspects of human life in an unavoidable way. As one of the most advanced visual media tools, Satellite TV has been increasingly accessible for Iranian public in recent years, ...
Read More
Introduction
Today's world, recognized as "the age of information", is a world in which media has penetrated into all and each aspects of human life in an unavoidable way. As one of the most advanced visual media tools, Satellite TV has been increasingly accessible for Iranian public in recent years, facilitating cultural and taste changes among Iranian families. Satellite programs, advertisements and images change peoples' attitudes regarding body and believes about beauty. They contain profound impacts on peoples' understanding and perception of their bodies and their level of self-esteem to such a degree that many may actually take initiative and begin to manipulate their body in order to conform to such beauty norms and ideals. Now, women and young girls in particular, because are primarily evaluated and commended according to their physical attractiveness, are more than men inclined to try to obtain fit and attractive bodies. The present paper aims at examining the effects of media images- which promote the ideal of beauty- on body image and self-esteem. In doing so, we introduce a relatively unknown variable named appearance self-schema as a moderating variable, whose role is examined in the process of media impact on body image and self-esteem. Although various studies in the past have paid attention to the role of media in body management and body image, fewer studies have actually considered the role that variables such as appearance self-schema can play. This variable is crucially important not only for understanding experiences of body image in everyday life, but for understanding the amount of investment people have in believes and assumptions related to importance, significance, and influence of appearances in general.
Methods and Materials
This is a quantitative study, with experiment as its main strategy. Research sample was randomly selected from among female graduate students of the University of Isfahan who lived in University dormitory and were divided into two groups of experiment and control. Limiting research sample to on-campus students and graduate level is due to make sure of the paring principle between the two groups of experiment and control, and also to make sure that we can control the accessibility of the groups to satellite TV programs. In order to measure body image variable, Tomas Cash's (1997) standard questionnaire was used and in order to measure the level of self-esteem, Rosenberg's questionnaire. Also, appearance self-schema variable was measured using Cash's et al (2003) standard questionnaire. Media images, including pictures of attractive and bodily fit women, were sent to members of the experiment group via email as incentive to see how their perceptions might be influenced. Via pre-test, subjects' information were obtained before the incentive is put into effect, that is, scores for variables of body image, self-esteem and self-schema appearance. Then for a period of one month, members of the experiment group were sent image incentives while control group members were supposed to see no similar images. At the end and in post-test, the scores of both groups were again measured to see what changes might have happened.
Discussion of Results and Conclusions
Research findings indicate that being subject to Satellite TV images does in fact influence body image. Those subjects who watch satellite programs advertising beauty products and physical fitness or films in which attractive, beautiful and fit actors play, have a more negative attitude toward their appearance and body. This is because, we assume, seeing these models takes the standards and criteria of beauty at a higher level among subjects and makes it difficult for them to feel competent upon comparison. This upward comparison produce a negative feeling about one's appearance and body. Also, being subject to media images has a meaningful relationship with appearance self-schema in the sense that those subjects who are more subject to attractive media images obtain a higher score in appearance self-schema variable, which means appearance becomes more of a priority and centrality in their lives, pushing them toward more involvement in appearance-managing behavior. These subjects tend to interpret their life events according to appearance more than others. In fact, appearance turns into a kind of schema for them to process information and influence the interpretation of subsequent information as well. However, being subject to media images does not have a meaningful relationship with the level of self-esteem in this research. In order to account for this, we would argue that as an enduring structure, self-esteem is rather inflexible and resist influence in the face of short-term motivations. Its vacillations are not fast. Therefore, although seeing attractive media images can influence attitudes toward body and even make it negative, it is unlikely that subjects' levels of self-esteem change dramatically. As another finding, a meaningful relationship was found between appearance self-schema score and body image score. The variable of appearance self-schema indicates how much one invests in his or her physical appearance. Subjects with higher scores in appearance self-schema are individuals for whom appearance constitutes one of the most important aspects of existence and interpret most of their everyday event according to it. For these individuals appearance self-schema does have a moderating role, in the sense that the mere encounter with attractive images would not make their attitudes toward the boy more negative, but it depends on how much of an important matter the appearance is for them. In other words, those individuals for whom appearance is very important tend to become more influenced upon seeing media images.
Social Problems in Iran
Masoud Kianpour; Soraya Memar; Sahar Khojasteh
Volume 25, Issue 2 , May 2014, , Pages 117-138
Abstract
Introduction 21st world is witnessing the advent of a critical movement and consequently the creation of a new view towards the issues governing societies. With the advent of this movement, a tradition of criticizing and challenging supposed foundations appeared in different fields of intellectual work ...
Read More
Introduction 21st world is witnessing the advent of a critical movement and consequently the creation of a new view towards the issues governing societies. With the advent of this movement, a tradition of criticizing and challenging supposed foundations appeared in different fields of intellectual work and science, leading scholars to endeavor for expanding critical thinking among the public. While in the middle of the 20th century critical thinking was considered as an educational requirement, now required measures are defined to put this concept into academic curriculums, developing therefore habit of critical thinking in all learners. Regarding the necessities and importance of critical thinking in every society, the present study indents to evaluate tendency of students in critical thinking as they are indeed the forerunners of social change in Iran. In addition to examining this phenomenon, we also want to know how some specific factors are related to it. These factors include academic motivation, economic-social status, sex and field of study. Material & Methods The method employed in this study is cross-sectional survey. Data collection process included two standard questionnaires (Critical Thinking Disposition Inventory (CTDI) and Academic Motivation Scale (AMS)) and one researcher-made questionnaire. The first questionnaire, designed by Ricketts, includes three dimensions of engagement, innovativeness and cognitive maturity. The second questionnaire, designed by Vallerand et al. (1992), is a seventh-grade Likert scale questionnaire including 28 items, which are divided into 7 subscales: intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, intrinsic motivation toward accomplishment, intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, external regulation and amotivation. The last questionnaire is a Our last questionnaire, designed by the authors, starts with three question of "field of study", "year of enrolling" and "sex" and continues with 8 items for evaluating the economic-social status. To evaluate the economic-social status, 5 dimensions of education, occupational rank, income, house price and car price were considered. Respondents of the present study included students of faculties of Humanities and Engineering of the University of Isfahan, whose total number was 833 individuals. Overall, 310 individuals were selected to constitute sample size using stratified probability sampling. Discussion of Results & Conclusions The data obtained from the study was analyzed descriptively and inferentially at two univariate and bivariate levels. The most important findings of the study are as follows: The results of the study indicate that around % 82 of students have a high tendency towards critical thinking. Also, around %93 of them have the high educational motivation. When it comes to socio-economic status, around %71 of students belong to the middle class. In addition, to examine research hypotheses, the data at the bivariate level was analyzed descriptively and inferentially with the follow results: 1. The level of significance (Sig=0.000) was obtained from testing correlation between the two variables of tendency towards critical thinking and academic motivation, indicating there is a meaningful correlation between these two variables. 2. The analysis of the correlation between the two variables of tendency towards critical thinking and sex indicates that there is a meaningful correlation between these two variables (Sig=0.028). 3. The descriptive analysis of the correlation between the two variables of tendency towards critical thinking and economic-social status indicates that there is positive, albeit weak, correlation (0.007) between two variables. However, this correlation is not meaningful and may be due to sampling error because the level of significance for this test is above 0.05. 4. The Goodman & Kruskal's tau coefficient (0.049) to examine the correlation between two variables of tendency towards critical thinking and field of study means that only about 0.05 of the changes of students' tendency towards critical thinking is correlated with their field of study and yet this correlation seems to be meaningless because significant level is not acceptable in the test.
رسانه
Elham Keykhaie; Samad Adlipour; Masoud Kianpour
Volume 24, Issue 4 , January 2014, , Pages 67-84
Abstract
Introduction Given the widespread discussions around globalization, especially cultural globalization (Appadurai, 1996), it is often assumed that this process eventually leads to discouragement and weakening of different cultural particularities. In other words, the assumptions underlying these discussions ...
Read More
Introduction Given the widespread discussions around globalization, especially cultural globalization (Appadurai, 1996), it is often assumed that this process eventually leads to discouragement and weakening of different cultural particularities. In other words, the assumptions underlying these discussions is that in light of modern IC technologies, the world is moving towards a sort of homogeneity and, to be more specific, convergence with western cultures. In this process, the Internet and virtual social networks are usually referred to as influential tools in the expansion of globalization. According to this analysis, we should expect a gradual dissolution of micro and local cultures into a widespread, global and universal culture. Nevertheless, the events of actual world do not confirm such an analysis. Although globalization has in a way influenced all aspects of human life and not exclusively culture, at the same time we see a diversification and strengthening of particular cultures and collective identities. Today, virtual social networks provide a potentially empowering tool for people with different ethnic backgrounds to pursue their interests. One of the most important characteristics of these networks, with a considerable role in ethnic issues, is weak surveillance over users. In comparison to other means of communication, social networks give greater freedom to people, making it possible for them to express various identities, including ethnic identity. The question that is propounded in this study is about ethnic identity of Facebookâs Turk users. We intend to analyze how Facebook influences the identity of Turk users. Our research hypotheses include: 1) there seems to be a significant relationship between membership period in Facebook and ethnic identity, 2) there seems to be a significant relationship between the amount of Facebook usage and ethnic identity, 3) there seems to be a significant relationship between the level of participation and activity in Facebook and ethnic identity, and 4) there seems to be a significant relationship between aims of users in Facebook and ethnic identity. Materials and Methods This is a quantitative study based on online survey, with an Internet-based, researcher-made questionnaire as its data-collecting tool. Given the fact that virtual space does not have a particular location in the real world, and because geographical variance makes accessibility to diverse and multiple users of Facebook practically impossible, and studying a user in actual environment is more effective, we decided to use online questionnaire technique. The validity of the questionnaire was achieved through construct and formal validity. Also, an acceptable rate of Cronbachâs Alpha was achieved for reliability. Research population included Turk users of Facebook social network in Iran in the year 1391. Because there existed no clear sampling framework to estimate the number of Iran's Turk users of Facebook, sampling method was decided upon according to convenience sampling or availability sampling in which subjects are selected on the basis of their availability or easiness to be found. Overall, 300 individuals voluntarily participated in the study. To be more specific, research questionnaire was initially sent to more than 7000 individuals who were identified as Turk users of Facebook. After collecting received questionnaires and elimination of incomplete or spoiled ones, 300 were included in research analysis. Dependent variable, that is, ethnic identity, is divided into four dimensions of emotional, lingual, geographical, and cultural. In order to analyze the data, various statistical techniques have been used including, among others, multiple-variable analysis and structural equation modeling. Discussion of Results & Conclusions Research findings show that there are significant and direct relationships between ethnic identity in the one hand, and membership period, the amount of participation and aims users in Facebook on the other. In other words, by increase in these variables, ethnic identity of users increases as well. This is line with research findings of Fakohi and Ayari (1388), Hakimi (1390), and Fernandez (2002). In analyzing these findings one can argue that as a result of boundless expansion of virtual space in the context of globalization, not only have boundaries of ethnic identity not been disappeared, but gained a possibility of clearer manifestation. This is because virtual social networks such as Facebook are tools through which different kinds of individual identities can get away from silence and isolation, obtaining the opportunity of becoming more broadly recognized and seen. Likewise, not only each dimension of ethnic identity is not weaken in Facebook, but they are present in all capabilities of this social network. Turk users seem to try to fully benefit from all applications of Facebook, offering their perspectives and viewpoints on multiple issues. They become members of this social network with a strong feeling of ethnic identity because Facebook has given them an ample opportunity, express their ideas and bound with their other fellow citizens. Regardless of their geographical location and without shared physical presence or cohabitation, they can constitute a virtual community and use Facebook as a communication tool to peruse their multiple demands and expectations. They use this membership as a tool for self-awareness and presentation of their ethnic identity in terms of emotional, ethnic, geographical, cultural, and lingual dimensions.
Culture
Masoud Kianpour
Volume 23, Issue 4 , February 2013, , Pages 25-52
Abstract
Introduction
This study lies at the intersection of the sociology of emotions and medical sociology, investigating emotion management among a rather unknown category of medical personnel –Hospital Chaplains. Sociologists of emotions seek to understand how emotions can be socially influenced ...
Read More
Introduction
This study lies at the intersection of the sociology of emotions and medical sociology, investigating emotion management among a rather unknown category of medical personnel –Hospital Chaplains. Sociologists of emotions seek to understand how emotions can be socially influenced in terms of both experience and expression. They believe emotions can be influenced by such institutions as culture and religion. As a result, not only do societies and subcultures have different patterns of expressing emotions according to their own norms and characteristics, but there are also different ways of managing emotions in social institutions. For example, in North American healthcare system, hospital chaplaincy is institutionalized, like other members of the medical team, to provide spiritual and religious care, which is often accompanied with emotional support, requiring therefore emotion management. In order to explore emotional experiences that chaplains undergo as a result of working in hospital and dealing with people who are emotionally overwhelmed, the author utilized insights from interactional and symbolic interactionist, phenomenological, and ethnomethodological approaches within the sociology of emotions and spoke with different chaplains from five faith traditions. The aim was to understand how chaplains perform interpersonal emotion management, what techniques, strategies and skills are involved in dealing with people’s emotions, and how performing emotion management in healthcare institutions brings religion and spirituality at the forefront of a secular society.
Material and Methods
This is a qualitative study based on in-depth interviewing with hospital chaplains working in different hospitals in the Toronto area. Toronto has a large number of hospitals and medical/healthcare institutions, most of which have a spiritual care department in which a number of full-time and part-time chaplains work to provide pastoral and spiritual care for patients, their relatives, and other medical personnel. Approximately 50 chaplains work in different Toronto hospitals, of whom 21 individuals were selected using purposeful sampling: a non-random method of sampling in which the researcher selects “information-rich” cases for in-depth interview. The author tried to collect data as records of action-in-process from a variety of people. Because the in-depth responses obtained by qualitative studies cannot be easily categorized, analysis must rely less on counting and correlating and more on interpretation, summary and integration. Therefore, more than anything else, the findings of this study are supported by quotations and case descriptions. The method of data analysis is qualitative description, with a phenomenological inclination: that is, the goal is to describe emotion management experiences as they are lived and felt by chaplains.
Discussion of Results & Conclusions
Chaplains who participated in this study are between the ages of 33 and 65. The average age is approximately 52. Also, 11 chaplains work part-time and 10 chaplains work full-time. 18 of the 21 chaplains in the sample are women. Recruiting more than 3 male chaplains was not possible due to the fact that hospital chaplaincy is a job predominantly occupied by women. In terms of ethnicity, the majority of the respondents are white, with European and Anglo-Saxon backgrounds. However, the sample also includes two Asian chaplains (with Chinese and Indian backgrounds) and one from the Caribbean Islands. Moreover, the sample includes chaplains from five different religions and faith traditions. The majority of the chaplains are Christian, including five chaplains belonging to the Anglican Church, three to the Roman Catholic Church, two to the United Church of Canada, and one to the Baptist Church. The remaining four Christian chaplains did not specify their Church. Several of the chaplains are church ministers. Also, two chaplains from Buddhism, one from Islam, and one from Judaism are interviewed. Finally, a pagan chaplain, who is a believer in the modern paganism movement and is apparently one of only two such chaplains in Canada, is interviewed.
Modern chaplaincy is not about performing religious ritual as much as it is about providing emotional support. The chaplains’ role is to be a compassionate care provider who listens patiently and tries to identify the matrix of emotions in which people are caught. As such, chaplains are supposed to be emotionally present, available and attend to people’s spiritual needs. Like sponges, chaplains soak up people’s emotions, name them and process them so that a healthy release of stress and tension can occur. Therefore, creating effective communication is vital in the work of hospital chaplains. By displaying role distance to their title as “chaplain” and defining themselves as “spiritual care providers,” some chaplains manage to provide a safe social space in which clients feel free to open up and talk. But more importantly, chaplains are equipped with interactional competence, that is, the ability to initiate interaction and direct conversation in ways that patients become motivated to cooperate and talk about their problems. By making a kind of interpersonal emotional bridge, chaplains try to cultivate contextual spirituality. Clues that people give are essential to help chaplains obtain an indexical and contextual understanding of the situation. In other words, the type of spirituality chaplains seek to promote is very much dependent on the context and situation of their clients. As soon as a safe social space is provided, where people feel comfortable to open up and talk, working on contextual spirituality starts, and chaplains begin to explore whatever spiritual, religious or other inner force that is available to patients and can give them power and strength to cope with the situation or come to terms with it. The most important component of this mechanism is identifying and releasing emotions, a process that includes multiple techniques of self, as well as interpersonal, emotion management.
Culture
Ali Rabbani Khorasghani; Masoud Kianpour
Volume 20, Issue 2 , July 2009, , Pages 35-64
Abstract
AbstractThe sociology of emotions as one of the sub-disciplines of sociology received attention aroundthe late 70s and mid 80s in American sociology. During this period several important contributionstook place to make the roots of the sub-discipline robust. Drawing upon five theoretical discourses,this ...
Read More
AbstractThe sociology of emotions as one of the sub-disciplines of sociology received attention aroundthe late 70s and mid 80s in American sociology. During this period several important contributionstook place to make the roots of the sub-discipline robust. Drawing upon five theoretical discourses,this paper aimed at presenting a general picture of emotions in sociology. Among all, Shottâssymbolic interactionist theory and Hochschildâs normative theory, which are labeled as socialconstructionist approaches, together with structural-relational theory of Kemper and Collinsâsconflict theory, which are categorized as positivist approaches, are discussed. Having reviewedthese four theories, the paper goes on to consider synthetic approach introduced by Turner, which isknown as general sociological theory of emotions.
