Western psychotherapy in traditional Arabic societies

doi:10.1016/S0272-7358(96)00011-6

Clinical Psychology Review

Volume 16, Issue 3, 1996, Pages 231-249

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0272-7358(96)00011-6 Get rights and content

Abstract

Because psychotherapy has largely been the product of Western culture, it has tended to emphasize individualism in that the self is usually defined as separate from a collective social identity. However, there has been no corresponding development of individualism in traditional Arab society. Psychotherapy has been described as a process in which one becomes aware of, and learns to express feelings and needs that were previously prohibited or unconscious. The generic goal of psychotherapy has often been described as “self-integration” or “self-actualization.” Such goals would be condemned in Arabic society, where collective identity is given precedence over the self. Although Western psychotherapy can help to alleviate internal conflicts within the Arabic client, it will often result in greater conflict between the individual and society. In fact, many of the basic techniques of psychotherapy are at odds with core beliefs of the Arabic culture. This paper presents a conceptualization in which Western psychotherapy can successfully be adapted to current Middle Eastern culture.

References (93)

G Hofstede
Cultural differences in teaching and learning
International Journal of Intercultural Relations
(1986)
M. Al Haj
Social research on family lifestyle among Arabs in Israel
Journal of Comparative Family Studies
(1989)
H. Anderson et al.
Problem-determined system: Towards transformation in family therapy
Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies
(1986)
J.A. Arlow
Psychoanalysis
D.R. Atkinson et al.
The effects of counselor race and counseling approach on Asian Americans' perceptions of counselor credibility and utility
Journal of Counseling Psychology
(1978)
D.R. Atkinson et al.
(1989)
L. Brammer
Nonformal support in cross-cultural counseling and therapy
J.F. Bryde
(1971)
J.F. Chien et al.
Asian American and pacific-islander patients

R. Corsini

(1975)

R. Corsini et al.

(1989)

R. Dauphinais et al.

Effects of race and communication style on Indian perceptions of counselor effectiveness

Counselor Education and Supervision

(1981)

J.G. Draguns

Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy

M. Dwairy

How can we ask for freedom of expression when we do not have the right to possess opinions (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

(199256)

M. Dwairy

Abolition of the self (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

(19922)

M. Dwairy

The relationship between the individual and his society (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

(19922)

M. Dwairy

Mental health among Arabs in Israel

(199313)

M. Dwairy

The development of values in Arab society is delayed in comparison to economic developments (Arabic)

Aliawm Assabia

(1993)

G.S. El-Athem

(1969)

A. Ellis

Rational-emotive therapy

A. Ellis et al.

(1987)

A. Ellis

Rational-emotive therapy

E.H. Erikson

(19501963)

F. Everett et al.

Providing psychological services to American Indian children and families

Professional Psychology

(1983)

V.D. Foley

Family therapy

S. Freud

(1949)

E. Fromm

(1941)

E. Fromm

(1976)

S. Geraisy

Developments in the Arabic society in Israel (Arabic)

Al-Mawakib

(1984)

Y. Griefat et al.

Life demands Musayara: Communication and culture among Arabs in Israel

J. Gulick

The ethos of insecurity in Middle eastern culture

A. Habash

(1977)

J. Haley

Marriage therapy

R.T. Hare-Mustin

Discourses in the mirrored room: A postmodern analysis of therapy

Family Process

(1994)

L. Hoffman

(1993)

Z. Hatab et al.

(1978)

G. Hofstede

(1980)

G. Hofstede

(1991)

A. Ivey et al.

(1978)

F.H. Kanfer et al.

(1986)

Y. Kaufmann

Analytical psychotherapy

J.D. Kinzie

Overview of clinical issues in the treatment of Southeast Asian refugees

H.H. Kitano

A model for counseling Asian American

A. Kleinman et al.

Somatization: The interconnections in Chinese society among culture, depressive experiences, and the meanings of pain

R.G. Lambert et al.

The effects of role preparation for psychotherapy on immigrant clients seeking mental health services in Hawaii

Journal of Community Psychology

(1984)

Cited by (99)

Art and emotion processing among arab breast cancer survivors: An exploratory study
2024, Arts in Psychotherapy
Art therapy (AT) has demonstrated potential for improving the well-being of breast cancer (BC) survivors, but limited research exists on emotion processing (EP) of Arab women in this context. Thus, this study delves into the relationship between EP and the art-making of Arab BC survivors in an AT group intervention to provide an in-depth understanding of their unique experience. We hypothesized that openly expressing emotions in the face of life-threatening events, such as BC, might be difficult for individuals from collective cultures with a strong emphasis on social harmony. We conducted a mixed-methods exploratory study (N = 62) with a visual analysis of 22 drawings and a textual analysis of reports from five art therapists. Positive correlations were observed between conservation values, acceptance of emotions, values, and artistic elements. Acceptance of emotions correlated negatively with space in drawing. Textual analysis of therapist reports revealed two themes—coping strategies and mixed emotions—corresponding to phenomena observed in the drawings. The women reported that art-making in a group facilitated access to their inner emotions, reinforced personal boundaries, and provided a safe space for addressing complex experiences. The AT group also offered socialization with women in similar circumstances. We conclude that AT provided these Arab BC survivors a culturally sensitive means of safely processing emotions through creative visual expression. Further research is needed to examine if AT is also helpful to BC survivors from other collectivist ethno-cultures.
Fathers’ parenting style and academic achievement of emerging adults in Lebanon: Mediating roles of psychological control, self-esteem, and self-construal
2023, Children and Youth Services Review
Middle Eastern fathers tend to be characterized as authoritarian and psychologically controlling, in particular with their daughters, to attain collectivistic cultural goals. We examined the association between fathers’ authoritarian and authoritative parenting styles and academic achievement of Druze Arab, emerging adult sons and daughters in Beirut, Lebanon. Fathers’ psychological control and emerging adults’ individualistic and collectivistic self-construal and self-esteem were examined as mediators. Emerging adult sons and daughters (18 to 24 years of age; N = 600) completed measures of parenting styles; achievement-oriented and dependency-oriented psychological control; self-esteem; and individualistic and collectivistic self-construal. Academic achievement was measured by grade point average obtained from official university records. We found that Lebanese emerging adult sons and daughters clearly distinguished between the strong propensity of authoritarian fathers to use psychologically controlling practices of shaming, guilt-induction, and love-withdrawal and the tendency of authoritative fathers to strongly refrain from these psychologically controlling practices. Authoritarian fathering as well as fathers’ use of psychological control related to both sons’ and daughters’ lower self-esteem and for daughters to lower academic achievement. Authoritative fathering as well as authoritative fathers’ tendency to refrain from psychological control related to high self-esteem and academic achievement. Our findings suggest that Middle Eastern parents should refrain from authoritarian parenting and psychological control, to nurture their child’s achievement, autonomy, and relatedness.
Egyptian parents’ responses to children's complaints focusing on the influence of sex and age
2022, Journal of Pragmatics
Citation Excerpt :
On the contrary, the authoritarian style seems more consistent with collectivistic cultures, including Asian societies (e.g., Japan and China), because these societies do not expect children to go through the same process of individuation (Triandis, 1990, 1996; Dwairy and Van Sickle, 1996). Instead, collectivistic societies emphasize the concept of the self as collectivistic and not different from the familial self and identity (Triandis, 1990, 1996; Dwairy and Van Sickle, 1996). Hence, the individualistic and collectivistic cultures prefer different rearing practices.
The current study examined the complaint-response strategies of Egyptian parents to their children's complaints. Data were collected from 60 Egyptian parents using 12 role-plays that included complaints by younger and older daughters and sons. The role-plays were audio-recorded and later transcribed. The data were analyzed using an adapted version of Laforest's (2002) model of complaint-response strategies. The results showed that parents preferred the use of partial-acceptance strategies (75%), particularly in the form of justifying oneself and suggesting alternatives. In contrast, rejection strategies were used at a much lesser extent (24%). The results also showed that parents preferred to justify their decisions in the form of positive outcomes and ill consequences. In this respect, religious reasons and societal norms were often employed with older children. Additionally, the results showed that mothers generally produced more partial-acceptance strategies with younger children (N = 261) and older sons (N = 142) and more rejection strategies with older daughters (N = 63) than fathers did (N = 238, 129 and 25 respectively). As for age differences, some statistically significant differences were noted in fathers' use of complaint-response strategies while no influence for age on mothers' behaviour proved statistically significant.
Bridging the cultural gap: Challenges and coping mechanisms employed by Arab art therapists in Israel
2021, Arts in Psychotherapy
Citation Excerpt :
In this regard, self-image tends to be dependent on family status rather than on individual achievement (Al-Krenawi, 1999; De Piano, 2020). A sense of belonging is paramount and therefore conflicts are likely to be avoided (Dwairy & Van Sickle, 1996; Omran, 2012). Good mental health is perceived as the achievement of harmony between the individual and the society whereas conflict is seen as a sign of emotional imbalance (Dwairy, 1997; Triandis, 2018).
The current study deals with the gaps encountered by art therapists from the Arab minority in Israel between the knowledge they acquired during their training and the knowledge they have accrued through work with members of their cultural group. Training of therapists in Israel is based on Western theoretical knowledge that, in general, focuses on the individual, self-actualization, and emotional expression. In contrast, collective societies, like the Arab society, typically perceive the collective as being more significant than the individual. This study is based on qualitative, phenomenological research that included in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 13 experienced art therapists and students from the Arab society in Israel. The research asked the question: What do art therapists from Arab societies need to bridge and how do they do this? To date, no research of this question has been done. The findings illuminated three main themes that these therapists experience: (1) the foreignness of psychology and art therapy in Arab society especially among parents, the resistance to artwork, and the alienation of therapy in schools; (2) conflicts between their professional principles and the perceptions of their society in connection with family exposure issues, religion, sexuality, and the duty to report; and (3) gaps between themselves and the Arab society. Their methods of coping include creating a hybrid, dual-cultural identity along a conformist-confrontational continuum. The findings highlight the complexity that art therapists from a cultural minority experience and the intricate strategies which they develop for bridging the gaps.
Teacher Well-Being and Organizational Citizenship Behavior in Arab Educational System in Israel: The Implications of Teacher Collective Involvement in Decision Making and Organizational Commitment
2024, School Psychology
The lived experience of Omani adolescents and young adults with mental illness: A qualitative study
2023, PLoS ONE

View all citing articles on Scopus

View full text

Western psychotherapy in traditional Arabic societies

Abstract

International Journal of Intercultural Relations

Social research on family lifestyle among Arabs in Israel

Journal of Comparative Family Studies

Problem-determined system: Towards transformation in family therapy

Journal of Strategic and Systemic Therapies

Psychoanalysis

The effects of counselor race and counseling approach on Asian Americans' perceptions of counselor credibility and utility

Journal of Counseling Psychology

Nonformal support in cross-cultural counseling and therapy

Asian American and pacific-islander patients

Effects of race and communication style on Indian perceptions of counselor effectiveness

Counselor Education and Supervision

Cross-cultural counseling and psychotherapy

How can we ask for freedom of expression when we do not have the right to possess opinions (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

Abolition of the self (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

The relationship between the individual and his society (Arabic)

El-Ettihad

Mental health among Arabs in Israel

The development of values in Arab society is delayed in comparison to economic developments (Arabic)

Aliawm Assabia

Rational-emotive therapy

Rational-emotive therapy

Providing psychological services to American Indian children and families

Professional Psychology

Family therapy

Developments in the Arabic society in Israel (Arabic)

Al-Mawakib

Life demands Musayara: Communication and culture among Arabs in Israel

The ethos of insecurity in Middle eastern culture

Marriage therapy

Discourses in the mirrored room: A postmodern analysis of therapy

Family Process

Analytical psychotherapy

Overview of clinical issues in the treatment of Southeast Asian refugees

A model for counseling Asian American

Somatization: The interconnections in Chinese society among culture, depressive experiences, and the meanings of pain

The effects of role preparation for psychotherapy on immigrant clients seeking mental health services in Hawaii

Journal of Community Psychology