The Features of Social IdentityOf Iranian Youth

The enigma of "identity" has constituted the studies in areas such as social psychology, sociology, cultural studies, as well as politics and international relations at least within recent decades. The cultural and structural developments in recent decades have led to various, multiple and even conflicting sources of identification. The global spreading of modernization and modernism and the changes in Information and Communication technologies (ICTs) as well as quick and easy access to it have fueled to the multiplicity of identities as well as identity crisis especially among the youth. Cultural developments, economic changes, as well as increase in educational opportunities and social participation have caused a variety of social groups, vast social relations and group belonging and thus multiple identification sources. The deep impact on both social institutions and increasing social awareness of this process has led into adopting new values and attitudes. It also has changed the social roles of the youth, women and men in the society. As a result, the parts of the society which are prone to cultural and institutional changes are facing a difficult time to balance their traditional roles and the new social roles. Thus they change their identity. In the present situation a study of the effect of institutional and structural factors like family, education and occupation on different levels of society especially the youth that are more exposed to renovation can reveal the effect of these institutions in establishing identity or renovating the social identity of the youth. The question is: what are the influential factors shaping on social identity? What are the influential factors on shaping of social identity of Iranian youth? What is the influence of socialization factors on formation of social identity of Iranian youth? This survey is inspired by symbolic interaction approach and is done in 2010.