| In the proposed study, the author has developed a theory concerned with the causes and effects of Migration, based on the interplay of a set of social structural and social psychological concepts. The aim of this research is twofold. The first is to show that by knowing the properties of the social structure and the psychological realities in the community of origin and in the community of destination, we can predict the conditions under which the decision to migrate (or not to migrate) is made, and their implications for the quality of life. Quality of life is defined here as psychosocial impairment, and is measured by the manifestation of psychoneurotic symptoms.;Fifty-six hypotheses have been empirically derived from this perspective. This theoretical development is a reaction to the problems in the current literature that deal with migration and its effects.;It was found that the hypotheses were justified as predicted by the theory in the two countries.;It is interesting to note the predictive potentials of this theoretical perspective and above all the heuretic appeal to research, which the consideration of the interplay of social structural and social psychological phenomena in most research situations has.;The second is to show that migration results from the reorganisation of economic structures, such as changes in the opportunity structure in different geographical areas. The key to this research hinges on the concept of reality, and the types of such realities, namely objective, social and subjective realities. Social phenomena are on going processes in which these different realities are constantly interacting whether we are aware of it or not. |
