SOCIAL REPRESENTATIONS of VIOLENCE and CONFLICT in PEOPLE of COMUNA UNO in SANTIAGO DE CALI

Abstract

This research aims to find out the social representations that
people from “Comuna 1” of Cali had about the phenomenon of
violence and conflict.
A descriptive exploratory research was carried out, identifying
socila representations about violence which included different
variables based on experiences of everyday life. The sample
consisted of five groups of adolescents ( three of women and
two of men), two groups of senior citizens abnd one group
which was composed of people who work in the local
community. The methodology of Focus Groups was applied to
the five adolescent groups and to the two senior citizens
groups. The interview for the community group was
condiucted individually but the results were analyzed on a
collective basis.
The conclusion stated that people from this commune
perceived their community as “violent” arguing that “violence
has become part of aour daily life”, “social cleansing groups
kill anyone considered as a socially dangerous agent”, “many
of criminal activities are connected with drug dealing”,
“public violence is manifested visually and verbally in public
places”. In summary, the ordinary people of the commune are
the victims of different kinds of violence at any time by
anyone.