Sociological Explanation of the Effect of Social Capital on the Forms of Alienation among Adult Residents of Tehran

One of the variables that can be effective in reducing social problems, including alienation, is social capital. Because each of its components, such as trust, participation and group bounds, can lead to greater integration and, consequently, social order. Hence, due to the importance of the subject, the sociological explanation of the impact of social capital on forms of alienation has been discussed. The research method was survey and data collection tecknique was a questionnaire. The statistical population includes the adult residents of Tehran. Of this population, 384 persons have been selected. The alienation forms were adapted form seaman’s theory of alienation dimensions, namely, powerlessness, normlessness, meaninglessness, isolation and estrangement. In this study alienation forms through the theory of Seeman have been investigated in five dimensions: feeling of powerlessness, feeling of meaninglessness, feeling of normlessness, feeling of social isolation, and feeling of estrangement. Social capital was also studied in three dimensions of social trust, social participation and group bounds. The results of the research showed that among the components of social capital, the average of social trust was lower than other components. There was a significant and reverse correlation between social capital and all forms of alienation. And the greatest correlation between social capital and social isolation was shown. Also, there was a significant relationship between the contextual variables and economic activity, ethnicity and residential area and alienation forms.