The role of parents, peers, educational environment and media in development of national identity in adolescents and youths of Tehran

The aim of the present research was to study dimensions of national identityand introducing its behavioral aspect as a new dimension and to compare developmental processof these dimensions andalso assess the role of parents، peers، educational environment and the media، in predicting national identity in early and late adolescence and early youth. This research was a surveyandselected700 students including 358 male and 342 female from Junior high school، high school and undergraduate students in Tehran citythroughcluster random sampling. Research instruments were researcher made questionnairesused for national identity، Knowledge of national signs and symbols and role of family، peers، educational environment، and media in development of national identity. Results of present study indicated that national identity has threedimensions: cognitive، affective and behavioral. Development of national identity showed decreasing trend from early adolescence to early youth but Knowledge of national signs and symbols showed anincreasing trend. Family، watching TV،listening toradio، peers، satellite، non-curriculum books and magazines were predicated to be national identity and Knowledge of national signs andsy mbols