STRATEGIC RESEARCH ON SOCIAL PROBLEMS IN IRAN
Year:2015 | Volume:41 | Issue:1 (9)|Papers Count:10

Introduction: A young population and delayed socialization for a new world order in the transitional society of Iran, has led to the development of adolescent and youth delinquency. In this context, young people who cannot direct their desires in a normal channel may turn into deviant and delinquent behaviors(Mohammadi asl, 2006: 11). This study considers serious delinquent behaviors which are named as high-risk behaviors, namely, behaviors that increase probability of physical, psychological and social negative consequences (Zadeh Mohammadi & AhmadAbadi, 2008: 88-89). Major causes of death and disease in industrialized and developing countries refer to relatively limited number of high-risk behaviors which are mostly begin from teen and young ages (Anteghini et al.2001: 1). Teens and young adults are one of the important groups exposed to high-risk behaviors such as AIDS (Mozafarzadeh & Vahdaninia, 2008), suicide (Aliverdinia et al.2011), sexual activities, violence and drugs (Baskin-Sommers & Sommers, 2006; Flisher & Chalton, 2001). Since social, family and economic factors play an important role in directing behavioral patterns of individuals, particularly adolescents and youth, if these factors do not play a desirable role, adolescents and youth experience challenge and pressures derived from these challenges and difficulties, may attract them towards high-risk behaviors (Barikani, 2008: 192-193). Occurrence and prevalence of high-risk behaviors among adolescents and youth is a result of disruption of social mechanisms and is due to several factors. One of these factors is social skills, which are essential elements of social life and the enjoyment of it can play an important role in deterring high-risk behaviors, especially among youth, because youth age is a period of transition accompanied by various crises. Social Skills are learned adaptive behaviors that enable individuals to interact with different people, expressing positive reactions and avoiding behaviors with negative consequences (Kartledge & Milbern, 1990). Lack of social skills may lead to behaviors such as delinquency, maladjustment, poor educational performance (Nasr Esfahani et al.2005), drug abuse and addiction (Ghassemzadeh et al.2007). Having social skills provide context for participation of individuals in the community and help them represent effective social reactions in confronting with really difficult social situations. In fact, social skills, transform people's potential abilities to actual ones and are essential to create, maintain and organize human relationships.

Introduction Social developments globally have brought numerous changes for the family system, so families are increasingly exposed to the risk of disintegration. Like other societies, in Iran besides the official statistics of divorce, there are separated lives in which the couple live together only physically; although they get emotionally separated as the time passes, they do not get a divorce due to cultural, traditional and even legal reasons. These cases describe the condition which is called tendency towards divorce in this research. Ferdinand Tonnies, a German sociologist, considers modernity as a movement through interpersonal bonds of «community» toward Individualism or invisible and unknown individuality of «society». By bringing up the contrast between «altruism» and «egoism», Durkheim believes that in «egoism», the activity and the beliefs of individual prefers to social bonds and there is little bond between the individual and the society, disrupting the balance between the individual and the society; on the other hand, «altruism» refers to a condition in which a severe connection exists to the beneficiary of society. Also, Anthony Giddens believes modernity has three characteristics (local cross human relationships, dominance of abstract systems and symbolic signs) and finally, the reflecting quality of modernity, of whose consequences are self-criticism or the formation of personal identity, realization of self and self-reflection, these characteristics separate modernity from pre-modern and traditional system and relations. In fact, Giddens and other intellectuals like Toffler and Turner believe globalization, the situation where events and incidents influence remote locations in a short time, is one of the most influential elements in the family system at the modern era. According to Turner, "the family” as a social institution faces increasing contradictions within the process of globalization; there is an essence for women’s economic participation in family on the one hand and the tendency toward motherhood on the other. Intimacy and close-knit relationships with children, and spouse, wouldn’t be easily created when both parents are in full employment. These issues cause tensions at the family level, one of whose consequences is an increase in the number of divorces.

Introduction: During the last few decades, all studies carried out on social deviances have encountered some ambiguity in defining deviant behavior. Generally speaking, deviant behavior refers to all acts and attitudes which are in contrast to the expectations of individuals, groups and institutions and are in conflict with the moral principles and common rules of the society, and therefore face legal hindrances or ethical and social disapproval. In addition, such behavior is considered to be abnormal, hurtful, unethical, harmful and blameworthy. Social deviance is a social phenomenon which is relative according to time, place, social position, individuals, different cultures and subcultures, and diverse ideologies and social groups. …

Introduction: Social apathy is one of the most unpleasant elements of the modern culture which is defined by an overemphasis on personal preferences and individualistic interests in contemporary urban life and imposes itself as an obstacle in the process of creation and provision of positive social relationships. It also decrease citizens' participation in social affairs, leading to weakness or even blockage of national development. Also, it is considered as absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement. ...

Introduction: Aggression is a kind of disorder in social relationships among individuals and groups which is considered as one of the most important problems in contemporary society. This problem has different social consequences, the most significant of which is declining of different dimensions of security in society. Street aggression might result in assault and physical violence as well as verbal abuse and insult. …

Introduction: Spatial analysis of urban social pathologies helps to identify patterns of criminal behavior, discover at-risk areas and eventually change the situation by creating spaces for defeating social pathologies and eliminate them from the city. In fact, considering the place, as the immediate cause of social pathologies compared with the individual or structural factors, it seems more feasible to provide practical solutions from prevention of social pathologies. …

Introduction: Ethnic disputes and collective aggressions are observable in each period of history and are more evident in traditional and nomadic communities. This issue has had many life and property damages in the past and present times and it has also prevented social development to flourish. Based on the damages of collective aggression, the researchers attempt to study the fundamental causes of this problem. It is assumed that state-trait anger and anger control methods are effective variables on people's tendency toward collective aggression. …

Introduction Security has been one of the most fundamental needs of human society and the incidence of crime is one of the most important problems in cities. Security feeling in urban spaces is one of the crucial indicators of a good space quality which is dependent upon different aspects of socio-economic and cultural status of each society. Today social scientists try to identify the factors which impact and influence the incidence of crime in public spaces. Urban planners analyze the role of physical and environmental variables in the level of public security in urban communities. The present research attempted to study the connection between public space security and spatial and environmental factors to formulate the main planning guidelines for maintaining security and prevent crime occurrence in the city of Babolsar. …

Introduction: Human resources as one of the important indexes of production and development have always suffered from social problems including committing suicide. Committing suicide is amongst the first ten causes of mortality. In some countries, it is among the first three causes of the death of young people who are the main capital of the society. Although an economic view to social problems especially committing suicide has just come to the forefront during the past decade, focusing on this view has been so widespread that the relationships between social and economic problems at the international, national, local, family, and individual levels has been the concern of economists and social scientists alike. …

Introduction: Security is one of the fundamental and natural needs of humans. It has both objective and subjective-psychological dimensions. In this study, its subjective dimension (feeling of security) is considered. Sense of security as a socio-psychological phenomenon is influenced by the direct or indirect experiences of people in different social situations and people need it to achieve a healthy life and sustain social relationships. Feeling of security may not be obtainable at the same level for different classes of society and certain segments of society may feel less secure than the others. In other words, they see their own interests at risk more than the others. …