Iranian Journal of Sociology

Abstract The purpose of present paper is to investigation about Freud's ideas on subjectivity and it’s relation to ideological subject of Althusser. At first, Freud, as a social philosopher, will be scrutinized and then his view will be compared to Althusser's opinion on subject. Ego, in Freud's thought can be interpreted as subject in sociological and philosophical debates. Subject (or Ego), in psychoanalytic view, through defense mechanisms, distorts the reality and the imaginary, and assumes his/herself as an autonomous subject. In this way Althusserian view on subject shows that subject, in imaginary way, assumes his/herself as an autonomous actor. Only under interpellation of ideology the subject can be a language-user subject. This process occurs at an unconsciousness level. Reviewing sociological aspects of Freud’s works on subject, we will show that ego defense mechanisms have characteristics, which ideology uses to distort the reality.

Abstract Studying decoding and conducting research on it, have always been an important concern in the area of Cultural Studies. This study set out to show how the role of religion could be explained along with variables like social class, job, income, etc. At first, the 9 pm TV news program of IRIB Channel came under our studying for a week. Then, using the reading-based structural semiological methodology, we analyzed this preferred reading news program and its dominant semiotics and signs. Then, we studied the reading of the audience from this TV news program (teachers, clergymen, and students) using focus group discussion qualitative approach. Findings of this study showed that the preferred reading of the source of this program tries to attribute the origin of all the internal oppositions and the discourse of the "other" to his "plots". And also Through polarization and equalization of the other (Israel, US and the western countries) with the mythical signifiers like Satan, and devil and through equalizing the "self" with signifiers like the followers of truth and God, etc., tries to make all its ideological notions and concepts prominent and marginalize the concepts and value of the other. In the reading analysis, it was found that different audience had different degree of understanding of TV news programs based on their degree of access to other discourses: newspapers, the internet and satellite, as well as their degree of religious belief.

Abstract Studies show that what has been the focus of attention in empirical understandings of partnership includes attending to participation criterions, participatory activities and sometimes investigating its barriers. Besides emphasizing such studies, this paper with prioritizing participation criterions, takes the spirit of partnership as its first priority. Furthermore, the paper tries to investigate this subject matter with reference to theoretical issues, reliance on utilitarian concepts and discussing subjects like social alienation, life satisfaction and faith. The study used multi-stage sampling and distributed 400 questionnaires among the Islamic Azad University students of district seven of the country (Kerman and Hormozgan provinces). The findings show that with the exception of the life satisfaction variable, all other assumptions are meaningful although the rate and direction of their impact is different. In addition the regression coefficient indicates the greater effect of the variables of decline of religious beliefs, opposition of values and social faith on changes of dependent variable.

Abstract The Sense of Security is considered as a prerequisite for social, economic, cultural and political development. Social capital is also an important factor that plays a crucial role in the course of cultural and economic development. The present paper examines relationships between social capital and the sense of social security in the city of Yazd. Data was collected through a survey questionnaire administered in the face to face interview conducted in 2011, with a sample of 246 respondents selected through the proportionate cluster sampling technique. The sense of social security is measured with twelve components including the sense of physical security, financial security, economic security, job security, moral security, cultural security, emotional security, affective security, belief-related security, judicial security, legal security, and honor security. Social capital is also measured in three dimensions of social trust, social networks and social norms. Findings of the study indicate that there is a positive and significant relationship between three dimensions of social capital and the sense of social security. The results show that sustainable forms of social security are formed under the condition that there is a high degree of social capital in the society. As a result, strengthening of social capital in the society will reinforce the individual and community's sense of security and at the same time can facilitate comprehensive development of society.

Abstract The article aims to grasp an understanding concerning the Iranian everyday life through studying public parks as one of the urban public spaces in which everyday life takes place. In Tehran metropolis two large public parks exist. One is located in prosperous northern part of the city, and the other is situated in the mainly lower class southern part. These two parks were selected for the present research. The same strategy was followed in the provincial 'Middletown' of Kerman, in which Park-e Maadar and Park-e Showra are located. The former is situated in the prosperous part of the city and the latter in the predominantly lower class part. Tehran is a highly alienating metropolis. It seems that in this so-called modern capital, the costs of modernity outweigh its benefits. In such a city, walking, hiking and passing time in a park, is an important outlet for escaping from the alienation produced by a metropolitan setting. In contrast, in Kerman, modernity is hardly something more than modern instruments and technologies. Family relationships are still strong. Despite the fact that extended family is an extinct social institution in Kerman today, most of the younger nuclear families are organized around a central older family to make a network for social interactions. In this provincial city, individualism and alienation are less important factors in everyday life. As a result, under the influence of different structures of everyday life two more or less different public spaces have been produced by people.

Abstract The study and measurement of quality of life is an important subject by itself. It acquires especial significance in urban settings. The urban quality of life in Iran, considering social, economic and cultural condition as well as the emphasis put on achieving the goal of twenty- year vision of this country is of strategic importance. Considering the situation of quality of life in cities and regions, and given that in Iran the comprehensive system of quality of life has not been created, studying different aspects of quality of life assessment can be a way to achieve a comprehensive assessment system of life quality. Therefore, this article is set to determine the quality of life indicators. It aspires to provide a model for assessing the quality of urban life in Iran, and uses the existing statistics (secondary data analysis) and cluster analysis techniques for ranking provinces of Iran, in terms of compliance with quality of life measures. The results show, Isfahan province, the quality of life score 4.52 higher than average, the highest rank (first rank) in the provinces of Iran. Provinces of Yazd with a score of 3.85, Fars, with a score of 3.16 and Tehran, with a score of 3.12 follow respectively in rank. Ilam province scored below the -3.58 level of quality of life and thus stands as the lowest average rating (rank of 30) in this regard.

Abstract