فصلنامه مطالعات عملیات روانی
پیاپی 37 (پاییز 1392)

With the expanding popularity of the Internet and its application among different segments of the society, this medium and its various applications, one of which is chat rooms, caught the attention of experts in the field of social sciences. In recent years, psychologists and sociologists have studied the effect of attending chat rooms on the mental health and well-being of individuals and social culture. The Internet and its applications are increasingly expanding. Experts have been trying to tell people how to utilize the Internet since its inception and a lot of specialists still raise some issues on the manner and extent of using the net among different groups. Exploring the effects of using this technology requires various studies. Stressing various, modern applications of the Internet, this paper attempts to look into the impacts of using the net on users’ individual and social actions. The findings suggest that the Internet leads to some changes in people’s social culture. Using chat rooms, as one of the applications of the Internet, which is popular among Iranians, especially among the youth, has significantly impacted on the identity of users. This paper examines various aspects of these effects.

The present paper examines the two variables "soft security" and "national media" stressing the strategic function of the national media in confronting soft war. Soft security and media system are two important, critical and complex issues that have strongly influenced human community. With the expansion of the world of communications, today, we are faced with soft war and it is said that the stronger the media, the more successful they are in directing public opinion. Hence, in the modern confrontation arena, media have a very significant role in each country's national power and the national media also plays a vital role in enhancing national collaboration, cohesion, trust, loyalty, and, ultimately, political involvement and can be considered as one of the basic elements in creating soft power and encountering soft war. Hence, exploring the concept of soft security, this study seeks to answer this question: ‘What is the role of the national media in creating soft security and which courses of action can it follow to confront soft war?’ The method utilized here is secondary analysis and library and internet resources have also been employed.

This paper attempts to explore the Islamic Republic of Iran’s soft power specifications in the 2025 vision plan. Careful scrutiny of the text of this document reveals various dimensions of soft power and a soft outlook toward power in it. The findings of the present study suggest that the vision plan has placed great emphasis on the soft image of power and the scientific, political, cultural, social, and economic dimensions of power can be seen beside military power. Also, Iran's soft power geopolitics in the vision plan covers the neighboring countries, Southeast Asia, the Islamic world and the global level. On the other hand, a wide range of the Islamic Republic of Iran’s soft power resources and its threats have been listed in the vision plan. An evaluation of the prospects of Iran’s soft power in the vision plan shows that it includes desirable potentials for the promotion of Iran’s soft power provided that the strategies and policies listed in it are implemented correctly. Since this study is limited to the twenty-year vision plan, it looks into soft power and its specifications in this document using library study and document analysis techniques. The aim is to explore the Islamic Republic of Iran’s soft power specifications in the twenty-year vision plan.

Today, soft war is considered a new strategy utilized to attack other nations. The goal of soft war is to change or overthrow political systems by influencing the beliefs, emotions, desires and social behaviors and values of a nation. Hence, soft war is seductive on the surface and it covers the whole society. Concerning the significance of this issue, the present paper deals with the effective soft war confrontation strategies based on Imam Reza’s (a.s.) life story using the library study method and following a review of the concept of soft war and its pivotal tactics. At the end, such strategies as implementation of Imam Reza’s (a.s.) educational, ethical and practical conduct and promotion of Razavi school of thought, holding debates and question and answer sessions, training specialists, the use of information services tools, efforts to create unity in all areas, etc. are suggested to cope with the enemy’s soft war.

In Islamic religious teachings, labor is deemed to be equal to worship and, at times, even the best worship. In contrast, laziness and idleness are considered manifestations of imperfection, senselessness and weakness of faith. The Holy Quran, as a complete plan for human life and as book containing all aspects of human happiness in every age and time, considers work and effort necessary for the growth and prosperity of man and provision of his requirements. As a religion which meets all the basic needs of human beings, Islam has not closed its eyes to work, but rather it has looked at work from various legal and ethical perspectives. The Holy Quran and the Tradition of the Prophet and the Infallible Imams are full of suggestions which not only clarify the legal aspects of labor, but also point out the ethical considerations of labor. The Prophet and the Infallible Imams are considered the best role models of work ethics. Reviewing their traditions and sayings and surveying the Quran, this paper seeks to explore the ethical virtues and vices of labor from the viewpoint of Islam. The research method utilized here is historical, and descriptive-analytic, though the new achievements in the field of humanities have not been neglected.

Terrorism is one of the significant problems of the present-day society. Terror isan organized, group act beyond which there is a political strategy. Exploiting the concept of ‘psychological terrorism’, this research addresses the notion that terrorists’ carrying out destructive or consolidating psychological operations is directly related to terrorist targets and expansion of ‘psychological insecurity’ in society. Considering the allegations leveled against Iran, the present study addresses this question: What are the facets of the terror-oriented psychological operations of the West countries against Iran and why is the Islamic Republic of Iran called a terrorist state? Reviewing historical events and utilizing the library study method, this research work came up with the definite finding that the Western countries’ aim in conducting terror-oriented psychological operations against the Islamic Republic of Iran is to impact on the world public opinion, overshadow Iran's influence in the world and eventually isolate Iran.

The Hollywood movie industry is over one hundred years of age. Having influence on the world cinema, Hollywood seeks to promote Western modernity and legitimize the U.S. hegemonic measures all over the globe. During this period, Muslims have been negatively represented in Hollywood. Prior to the collapse of the Soviet Union, Hollywood used to depict Muslims in a negative and undesirable way and following the disintegration of the Soviet Union, particularly after 9/11/2001, they looked upon Islam as the enemy of Western modernity and Western civilization and, besides the previous illustrations, they associated Muslims with such traits as terrorism and fundamentalism. The far-reaching authority of Jews on Hollywood has played a central role in creating a negative image of Islam and Muslims. Using library documents and relying on the descriptive-analytic methodology, the present article seeks to delve into Hollywood’s approach toward Islam and Muslims.

A lot of indications are suggestive of America's declining soft power: emergence of an independent Europe, revival of the Soviet Union as a modern Russia,remarkable progress of China, the Islamic Awakening and the rise of such regional powers as the Islamic Republic of Iran which yearn to make decisions without considering American doctrines. Aware of the changing balance of the world order, American rulers resort to certain measures to lead the changes in the globe. Meanwhile, the decline of America's soft power and the increasinggrowth of anti-Americanism is the biggest challenge for the waning superpower which has relied on soft power to encounter hostile nations. Reviewing the decisions made by the former presidents of America, this paper evaluates this country’s declining course of power, particularly from the perspective of soft power. Analysis of developments in other power centers including China, which enhance their soft power using their own capacities, is also the focus of the present paper.

Socialization refers to the process through which an individual acquires his/her desirable, required traits for joining a society. The most significant outcome of socialization is the acknowledgement of oneself as a firm agent led by the existing norms, roles and relationships. This process involves various institutions among which the religious institutions are considered the most noteworthy in the contemporary history of Iran. The Islamic Revolution has gone through several generations since its inception. The first generation comprises those who were young in 1953 and spent part of their life fighting against the Shah’s regime and founded the Islamic Revolution and the Islamic Republic accompanying Imam Khomeini (rah.). The second generation raised by the first generation includes those who acted as the driving force of the Islamic Revolution, managed the Imposed War and are currently known as the generation of the revolution and war. The third generation are the children of the second generation who don’t have the pre-revolutionary and war experience. To socialize these generations, various religious teachings were taken up and the clergy played different roles. Using a comparative outlook, this paper seeks to explore the influence of the clergy on socialization of the three generations.

One of the most influential groups in contemporary society is university students who can play a highly significant role in advancing the major goals of every nation owing to the tools at their disposal. Mingling of college education and literacy level of students, on the one hand, and their freshness and liveliness, on the other, doubles their effectiveness. One of the key factors which qualifies the Basiji students for stepping into the civilization-building arena, as a sublime cause, is the notion of student as a rational agent with a revolutionary, justiceseeking and idealistic spirit. Relying on the teachings of Islam and the guidelines given by the Supreme Leader, Imam Khamenei, the present paper attempts to address the scientific, cultural-social and political dimensions of jihad. The paper also identifies the operational features of jihad and a role model Basij student for creating soft security. To accomplish this, first, jihad is defined and, then, the standing and role of jihad in Islam is scrutinized. Finally, academic jihad as the most significant attribute of a role model Basij student in the fields of science, political insight, politics, and cultural autonomy is explicated.