Sociological Cultural Studies

Sociological Cultural Studies

Sociological analysis of Isfahani cultural personality: a qualitative study

Document Type : .

Authors
zahra maher 1
Pegah kheirollahi 2
1 Assistant Professor, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran.
2 PhD Student in Economic Sociology and Development, Department of Social Sciences, Faculty of Literature and Humanities, University of Isfahan, Iran.
10.30465/scs.2025.50839.2962
Abstract
Introduction
Culture and its surrounding environment define behavioral patterns, which in turn shape the personality of individuals within a society. In other words, the personality of a society or region is influenced by the prevailing culture of that domain. These psychological commonalities are referred to as Cultural Personality (Bates & Plog, 1996). Distinct Cultural Personalities have been defined for various cultural regions in Iran, such as Tehran, Isfahan, Turkic communities, and northern provinces. However, these descriptions are sometimes intertwined with ethnic stereotypes. One of the most widely recognized Cultural Personalities in Iranian society is the Esfahani Cultural Personality, which reflects both the genuine beliefs of Esfahani culture members and external perceptions of them. This personality is commonly associated with traits such as frugality, conservatism, humor, and intelligence. The current research aims to provide a scientific definition of the Esfahani Cultural Personality. To establish its theoretical boundaries, the study draws upon the anthropological concept of Cultural Domain, which was expanded by Clark Wissler (1975) and Alfred Kroeber (1939). This concept suggests that specific cultures can be observed within various geographical settings.

Materials and Methods
Ruth Benedict is one of the anthropologists who believes that in every society, multiple Cultural Personalities emerge, each representing a distinct social group within that society. Cultural Personality consists of a set of cultural actions that members of a cultural system internalize and unconsciously enact, eventually shaping the dominant personality within a geographical environment (Benedict, 1934).
This dominant personality is similar to the concept that Abram Kardiner introduced as Basic Personality. According to Kardiner, Basic Personality is the result of socialization and cultural adaptation within a social and cultural context. Over time, shared personality traits are taught to members of society, forming a dominant and foundational personality that is continuously reproduced. This process is what Kardiner refers to as the systematization of rules.
Social actions are behaviors exhibited by members of a society that are consciously or unconsciously performed based on cultural principles governing social life. In sociological literature, the most comprehensive classification of social actions comes from Max Weber's theory. Weber (2015) categorizes social actions into four groups: instrumental-rational action, value-rational action, affective action, and traditional action (Weber, 2015: 51-52).
Georg Simmel (2001), in his approach to social types, defined modern society and culture based on social typologies. Social types are not formed solely within a single culture; rather, they emerge within subcultures, where distinct social types are created specifically for differentiation from the dominant culture. Sometimes, social types are assigned to certain groups by other subcultures.
Thorstein Veblen (2004) introduced new interpretations of consumer behavior and lifestyle in his theory of conspicuous consumption. Veblen argues that conspicuous consumption originally served to maintain an affluent and urban appearance, distinguishing individuals from rural culture. As urbanization expanded, conspicuous consumption became a marker of wealth, preventing middle-class and working-class individuals from being socially labeled as "rural."
According to Pierre Bourdieu (2010), symbolic capital refers to any asset or sign that represents other forms of capital and is socially recognized. Symbolic capital consists of goods or markers that perpetuate social contrasts—such as strong vs. weak, large vs. small, rich vs. poor, intellectual vs. uncultured—through symbolic expressions. This concept aligns with symbolic violence, a term that Bourdieu (2010) introduced. The upper classes distinguish themselves from the middle class through symbolic capital, while the middle class also differentiates itself from the working class via similar mechanisms.
Talcott Parsons (as cited in Ritzer, 2018) is one of the most influential sociologists who attempted to link micro-level social actions with macro-level social systems through a systematic approach. From Parsons' perspective, society, culture, and personality are interwoven concepts that simultaneously produce and reproduce each other. Therefore, according to Parsons, culture is not merely an abstract concept or a set of mental beliefs; rather, it is objectively observable in the personalities of society’s members.
To answer the research questions, library research was utilized. Library research is a qualitative method in which the researcher systematically and methodically reviews existing library data to synthesize, classify, and evaluate relevant content related to the research subject. Since the study follows a qualitative approach, its validity was ensured through triangulation, which is one of the key strategies for strengthening reliability in library research.

Discussion and Results
Ultimately, the results can be presented in five main codes:
1. Othering
2. Primacy of Form Over Content
3. Dogmatic Rationalism
4. Living in Future
5. Subtle Eloquence
A set of themes, such as ritualistic requirements, ceremonialism, authenticity of the other, aesthetic primacy, religious considerations, linguistic pressures, family centrality, and cultural acumen, represent a more abstract and conceptual formalism—the emphasis on form over content. Here, form refers to appearance and structure, rather than intrinsic meaning. In this context, the execution of rituals, external manifestations, and determinate practices hold exceptional significance.

Conclusion
As a general conclusion, it can be said that in the social sphere, the Esfahani Cultural Personality is highly sensitive to social judgment and is strongly inclined to adhere to societal norms and laws. This personality is shaped by two key concepts: “people” and “reputation”. Individuals with this cultural personality consistently strive to preserve their social dignity by conforming to societal norms, preventing verbal pressures that could lead to psychological distress caused by “not being like others”. In Esfahani culture, this continuous effort to maintain dignity in front of society is interpreted as a sign of rationality.
Rationality holds different meanings within this culture. In the economic domain, rationality is defined as capital management. An Esfahani individual does not invest time or money unless they are certain that a job or product has material value. Moreover, they consider hard work the only logical way to accumulate wealth, linking financial security in the future to diligence in the present. In the cultural domain, the Esfahani personality is deeply committed to order, precision, and structure in every task. As a result, they are reluctant to embrace change, believing that established societal methods have proven their effectiveness—thus, there is no reason to alter them.
Keywords
Cultural personality
Isfahan
library research
qualitative content analysis
sociological analysis
Subjects
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Sociological Cultural Studies
Volume 17, Issue 3 - Serial Number 61
Autumn 2026
Autumn 2026
Pages 533-587

  • Receive Date 06 January 2025
  • Revise Date 10 May 2025
  • Accept Date 10 May 2025
  • Publish Date 22 November 2026