O Medo social como sintoma da violência urbana nos processos de interação social

Abstract

This research aims at studying the social representations concerning urban violence among five different neighborhoods in Maceio, focusing on the effects felt on the one hand by the upper-class citizens and on the other hand by those who live in suburban areas. As we observe the impact of the topic in our contemporary society, it brings about a discussion above the outcomes of a violent sociability within social interactions, which have been demanding new ways of sharing the urban area. The “Emotions Sociology” has been adopted in order to analyze expressions of both social insecurity and fear, taking violence as an emergent social phenomena, as well as “Ethnomethodology”, and “The Theory of Social representations” which supports the common sense understanding as a part of group construction. During the research, 10 interviews took place and also 184 surveys have been applied in the up mentioned neighborhoods chosen in this investigation. The research results indicate that such sensations of fear and insecurity have led to a new way of organizing individual and group life, therefore, transforming society values.