Preliminary communication
Diversity in the Perceptions of the Symbolic Values of Water (An Interdisciplinary Approach)
Joško Sindik
; Institut za antropologiju, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Marijana Briški
; Kineziološki fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu
Abstract
Knowledge about the symbolism of water can be relevant in cases when an education programme about the issues of water management and environmental protection has to be designed. Therefore, the main aim of this study was to find out if different symbolic values of water correlate with some demographic and socio-economic factors. A preliminary list of forty possible symbolic meanings of water, derived from the sources of history, history of arts and everyday life, was submitted to 136 participants, selected by snowball sampling. The results of factor analysis have shown that there are three latent dimensions of the symbolical meanings of water: 1. Abstract: ontological, mythological and religious, 2. Concrete: mainly associated with its practical use, and 3. Identity value: associated with national and regional affiliation.Women, older people, as well as persons with longer work experience, tended to associate water with more abstract meanings. However, the level of education has no impact on the results. The meaning of water in abstract terms and as a symbol of identity, dominated among the participants who are born near the sea, and especially among those from Dubrovnik.
Keywords
anthropology; water; abstraction; concreteness; correlation; identity; latent dimensions
Hrčak ID:
164611
URI
Publication date:
1.7.2016.
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