A Qualitative Research on the Source of the Perception of Privacy in Adults

This study aims to reveal the source of the perception of privacy in adults. The phenomenological research design of the qualitative research methodology was applied and the interviews were conducted with 12 adults selected according to the purposeful sampling strategy. The obtained data were analysed by the descriptive analysis method and categorized in two main themes: The perception of privacy in adults and the source of the perception of privacy in adults. The adults described the concept of privacy as the personal/familial situation, the privacy, the prohibition, the untouchableness, the unpermitted zone and the hidden matter. The social and religious principles are revealed as the criteria making the behaviour private. The adults assume the untouchableness of body, the sexuality, the puberty, the marital affairs, the personal views and faith as private matters. The reasons why the adults avoid from the private behaviours are described in two sub-themes: Internal and external reasons. The internal ones include the respect for anyone, the fear of damaging or being damaged and the personal decision. The external ones are the avoidance from the banned behaviours by Islam, the social and parental obedience. The findings of the study indicate that the society and the religion are two main elements in which the perception of privacy of the adults is rooted