Abstract
Social Factors Intergenerational Transfer of Alcohol Use: The Case of the Selami Ali (Selamsız) Gypsies
There is a complex pattern of many factors in the increase in the prevalence of
alcohol use, which is among the substances with a high risk of addiction. In addition to
the subjective reasons that lead the person to use alcohol, the approach of the society
to alcohol use can also be effective in the alcohol use attitudes of the people. These
factors, which can become evident in the process of socialization and acculturation, are
learned by the individual through observation and experience and transferred to the next
generations by being articulated with traditional elements. Especially in relatively closed
communities, social reinforcements have an important role in making intergenerational
transitions sustainable. With this study, it is aimed to determine the social factors that
play a role in the intergenerational transmission of alcohol use in the Gypsy society and
its reproduction in the next generations. In accordance with this purpose, research was
conducted on the Gypsies living in Üsküdar Selami Ali neighborhood, which is one of the
oldest settlements in Istanbul. Qualitative methods were used in the research. For this
purpose, in order to determine the social factors that play a role in the transmission between
generations, users who continue to use alcohol for two or three generations among the
same family members were determined. After the preliminary interviews, alcohol users
were selected from those living in this neighborhood in accordance with the sample of
the research. The findings obtained from the research were handled within the scope of
Social Learning theory and analyzed by associating them with the traditional elements of
the Gypsy subculture. As a result of the research, it has been seen that intergenerational
learning processes are an important factor, especially on the formation of addiction, and
this effect is observed in a higher level culturally relatively closed societies.
Keywords
Alcohol addiction, Gypsies, Social learning, Social work, Migration.
