Explaining social norms intervening on the sense of identity in the neighborhoods of Iran’s cities (A case study in Kuti Neighborhood, Bushehr)

Abstract

Existence of neighborhoods in the structure of the cities in Iran, as a key element of the body of the city, balances social life in cities. However, todays, the residents of metropolis, are not associated with their neighborhood space and do not have a clear and specific definition of neighborhood in their mental picture. In addition, neighborhoods have lost their past features and always induce lack of identity in citizens. Hence, the present study aimed to identify social norms intervening on the sense of identity in the neighborhoods of Iran’s cities. It seems to have a sense of belonging and peace and security provide a close relationship between people and the environment, also religious and cultural symbols are the other factors influencing the formation of identity in the neighborhoods by creating a mental picture for residents. In this study, both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. To do so, at first the concept of identity was identified through the study of documents of experts’ ideas and social factors affecting identity were extracted. Then, the criteria identified by questionnaire and systematic random sampling among 190 residents of the neighborhood of Kuti in Bushehr province were evaluated and reviewed. The results of the evaluation and analysis of the comments indicated that there is a significant relationship between the criteria of sense of belonging, mental picture, a sense of peace and dependency and signs of identity and each of the factors with different effectiveness affects the identity of the neighborhoods.