Some psychosocial and cultural factors a review BEITHALLAHMI1Universi - PDF document

1 Some psychosocial and cultural factors a
Some psychosocial and cultural factors a review BEIT-HALLAHMI1University This offered introductoryand the Arab-Israeliconflict. Its survey of 270ers theconflict between and in and in (1970, major pro-majorconten-is of the Arabhave brought them to present (1970, the on of instruments withof the quite trying from empirical to the Arab position more is result specific Arab to culture, is of consider-given the party more thanhistorical Arab character trait, and others (Adams, 1958; and 1955),(cf. towards Arabs for-alike. fatalism valuesthe Egyptian Racy, personal observations hostility in society &dquo;Exaggerated hospitality ness reactions to least in part .... the breaking interper-seem directedtowards the expression of 141-42). of in may Arab the 1972). to thesis,hostility may as basic ofthe Arabnot just result of intergroupsources contain personal and anecdotalevidence, studiesthe lasttwenty by Melikian (1952)American and Melikian described culture authoritarian, to American a ofstudents of American reported levels comparison of Americ

2 analsosuggested that Egypt cally, becaus
analsosuggested that Egypt cally, because is to cultural The of the of to beand its military aspectsperception of false-hood&dquo; were charac-by and Hottingerdiscussed if,&dquo; which Arabculture, and this of of and tarianism. masks instead ofal- 271faults from point of view that of &dquo;fahlawi.&dquo;person 1967) is in approach tasksthe over errors. According to fah-that ArabThe syn-drome related what outside observersrecognizes the major and calls manipulation 1).suggests whereby and distortion the recipients, turn reinforces to Avineri (1970)a of the &dquo;Arabwith societalof the fantasy to consider only factors,solution. byGlidden Racy (1970) help use of instead of reali-situation, in of self-con-a solution theface helplessness Related the is the of the guage. described larly for precise or p. 21). Shouby scribes the Arabic of thought and the Arab world. five characteristicsof are vague-overemphasis psychological cance at of emotionalresponses; overassertion two of and real. Allrelated The by othernon-Arabs (Chejne,1967b; 1958).

3 (1965) the almost magical in central has
(1965) the almost magical in central has thor-ough review the literature psycho-properties of their tance relations. He Arabic the causes the present of ofonlyexperimental work supportsnotion that given than Arabic does not beyond im-One against the validity of do studied. are based populations, atic those Melikian The social and (Labban, toof on writ-of (Hamady, with When we are with a rich that the possiblefind that fit almost 272or social we seen,most of several as the question ly the context of conflict,the arbitrary by and creation certain onfromof domination (cf. suspiciousness regarding can be understood in this context:Being defeated technologically whoto resourceful finding ways to feeling outsiders which contribute clearlysuspiciousness. and theit better be one’s guard. connection Israel and Western not but also psychological, Israel bringsthe helplessness.(1971) against the wholesug-may responsible attributed tothe Arab personality structure. An-generality sincesuch attributes have Cohenout limitation em-phasis on basic to

4 for cultural and historicalchanges. surr
for cultural and historicalchanges. surrounding use concepts in this of con-cepts basic in ex-conflict 1970)? lack of systematic analysismay is presentationof steps to is CULTURE person-eventhose dealing coun-terpart 1971). One reason pot&dquo; Israeli modal question, one of issues of the (Herman, 1970), to new the Jewish his-of being a discussion Jews inferiority,mistrust of trust as beingArabMoreover he these feelingsdirected towards the butoutside powers. Rogers (1972)ciousness grandiosity the Israeli tion vis-a-vis the rest Rogers is that aprivileged transcend Rubinstein observationson and charac-terized others&dquo; p. 111). ciousness to 273andHe levels the world, against and third ternational Rubinstein thusagrees with the byDespiteelaborate the Gentilesmore recent Arabs,according to a major Israeli and to presented Arab suspiciousness apply being all actors inposture towards intergroup areto of following studies Mead contrasted traditional with developing ing to was to Jewish identity largeridentify a of was to some 11).Mead a

5 of Israel’sumque mission, with Israel’s
of Israel’sumque mission, with Israel’s that with regard-marking-off implications identity. He the and non-Jews of Jewish the of mind Jew. demarcation fromis very much in in are aofIsrael, described umque main characteristicsin interest in recenttheir centered around and comfort; unquestioned reported by and Eisenberg and seen sometimes In Herman’s sample the between by two-thirds religion turned significantof the Jewish-Israeli were into gious, cent of the overlap and The dimension analyzed found identity concepts in Israeli into a gious classified identification each subarea.Dimensions significantin the of Israeli to be the and dimensions religiosity. (1968b,calls to the Israel Wemtraub, involving ’’rehgion. guage, politics 1971. 17).Similarly Herman the 274European settlers religious Jews. Peres(1971a) states the inis given economic gaps So-between and in Israel was to considerableasymmetrical. moreto accept the dis-Europeans and by Aloni self-concept and perceived European early onthe manifest the next Sociopsychological ConflictTh

6 e of the Arab-Israeli flict has led to a
e of the Arab-Israeli flict has led to a series sociopsychologicaland Liff (1971) as to an a wayfragmentation,and to raised in manner consistentwith nation national interests&dquo; Harkabi(1968) emphasized Arabthe salience Jordan, Jordanianpartially conflict is being used to integration. of the conflict Arab ac-to the Arab help selfhood by negating nations. anti-Israeli in conceal pan-Arabism unity conflict onwere explainedPeres compo-(1) as na-is to all Israeligroups; for antagonistic have a Newnham similarfor the Israeli circles may payoff 1969), an Israelireligious expresses the viewthe conflict true peace of Jewishmay help some parties in Israel.cohesiveness as (1970).between and and nonreligious, veterans resultthe threat. observationsthe effects Harkabi continuous as source strength and He 275that whyis Israel needs Harkabi she and Of special interest are re-cent model. Since decrease in experienced been noticed there has beena in by organizing around able numbers public andof tensions between the and the signsof the of the deve

7 lopments generalizations bi beto assume
lopments generalizations bi beto assume external the holding is clear that divisions, described in Uses ofIMPACT OF the as clash betweena has been,Patai,of cultural the Arabs Israelis oftenmentioned as a factor Arab military1967; Harkabi, 1967b).Israeli-Arab differences as agap led those about is involved this line of reasoning.The universally ac-cepted, that Westernized than Arab second in Arab so-and narrowing gap, militancyon the The1968; Stock, sees the Arabs as educationally materially, and frustrated. naivete this politically, but been espoused official policy this sources namely generalized The modernization in better education and a highercentral to Israeli for Operationally, the prediction has become better religious?), advanced morevis-a-vis wasnot hypothesis to objective alsohypothesis to modernization.on the relative the of Arabs (Lan-indicate clearly have borne by acknowl-of inthe the increase with indicate 276effects contactbetween and Israelis aretotally itsthe secularization force, affectingideology behavior in conflic

8 t. religion and to similar sides. Religi
t. religion and to similar sides. Religious and extreme non-positions 1971a, religionin of often its in connectionwith Israeli Zionist been (Harkabi, 1967a).The seeming measured observance (Herman,the in conflict a predict related extremism. Justof modernization the realitiesconflict are different. &dquo;turn the seems taken Israel since war 1971b). The of have themessage (Harkabi, argumentsbeing used of (Rubinstein, the Arabsignificance conflict unified Pakistan around issues gen-uinely nonreligious (i.e. Marxist) groups world be their apparent limitedpsychological majortheconflict Thus bothof and position. While optimism results from a psychology as a use to the section APPROACHcon-towards relations&dquo; relations approach the conflictpsychological therefore through Lakin two consist-ratio-is feelings decrease and conflict. recom-human as a tial tool for Jewish-Arab whilein-from both wemust respond are not case no experiences members were havingprerequisite readiness Other from such resulting addition to tempts there were in the lea

9 dto natural potential for bridg-ing part
dto natural potential for bridg-ing parties 277found in groups, sharing in the ofsides-the and the Jews two natural Thepresent potential stated of different most outspoken advocates of 62). These groups mediators now a planned naturally the are the Some of their psycholog-From sociopsychologicalthe Arab-Israeli can the ofthe and better we could consider-ing economic These two recognitions-one tations concepts in ex-plaining the actors in conflicts, thespecific of the litera-above.psychosocial of con-(e g., 1971; trate overemphasizing psy-chological and Psychological in the conflictcaused by &dquo;psychological or &dquo;irrationality&dquo;the theories approaches conflict not humanin quotes Arab politician (1969, answer Harkabi,who that hostility created because some need to or He-sociopsychologicalnecessary com-is its Givenby (1965a, andit is literature in the more data.we to actors in such the psychology of assumptions rationalityand irrationality are positions both A would both in their example in held opinion(as-is is Arab &dquo;hav

10 e learned These processes and theyaffect
e learned These processes and theyaffect and as deterrence of researchunnecessary, since there is coverage One group in research is Palestinians. Palestin-are with rare (Bruhus. 278Barakat, Paradoxically of under rule andin and 1970; Jiryis, At the time few factors the the example is language. While effects of in ex-cept for attempt A Israelisuggest need a of the language, especially in viewof references,messianic and terminology of and 1958;Baal-Theshuva, 1963; 1956).we the this levels of involve-are impressed dearth data of among subgroups.little literaturesubgroups Arab andof the complexities ofOrientalJews in Arabmain of future workbe the those ferences among subgroups. the proaches presented in review in how of are in theeventual resolution of thisAdams, conflict Anthropologist, 1957, 225-35.Allen, T. Discussion, The Under-31-33.S. society: reflections. Modernizationand the Middle York: Association J. Mission York: D. David Ben-Gurion, His New York: _. Quoted in 1971, p.On groups.Haifa in University, Haifa,The Garden N.Y.: A stud

11 y Journal, 130-38.Chejne, A. Arabic: sig
y Journal, 130-38.Chejne, A. Arabic: significance inArab-Muslim East Journal,Cohen, A. Israel and York:Role 1956.The OtherOxford N. social In C. W. Attitude, Change. New York: Dodd, and H. Palestinian refugees1967: 1970, Etzioni, aspects Social Reading, of onReview, 1958, Gardner, G. interpretations, of Social G. 1955.Glidden, The Arab world, 279Hamady, Temperament Character . New York: Harkabi, Y. Be-Sikhsuhk in the Hebrew).Arab collapse the Day Orbis, , Ha-Aravim Israel-the Dvir, 1968 Hebrew).S. an Identity. 1970.of an of Psychology, 1970, Readiness between Arabs and Conference on 1971._ and The in Israel, 1948-1966. Institute Khatchadorian, study "make-believe" East ciety, Middle 37, 15-19.Personal communication, H. the international In Kelman InternationalAnalysis.New York: Holt, to theinternational (ed.), A York: Labban, A. a mature Middle1960, 27-30.M. Arab and Jew in in Human Approach Washington, M. The in 1969.Z. The International R. A choanalytic York: 1951.R. B. The East: social problems, Journal 69-75.Mead, M. Israel Identi

12 ty. York: Theodore Foundation, two State
ty. York: Theodore Foundation, two States, Social Issues, experimental ref-of Psychology,The dethronement Newnham, international 1957, Conflict. New York: 1961.Y. East.Brunswick, Transaction, 1971a.and the Alroyin World. York: Association for Peace in observationson Arab,1969, 219-33.Journal of Psychology, 1955, L. Melikian. Social distance Near East, 3-11._. The opinionscale an authoritarian Opinion17, J. Psychiatry in Rim, 1968,Aloni. Stereotypes to, 312-25.Rogers, R. Israeli 280, are being diffi-York April Salem, E. a Arabic East1958, 34, Sanua, The the manuscript, 1966.of the on the Annual 1970.in A of The , 14-29.Sharabi, Palestine Guerrillas—Their Credibilityand 1970.E. on the the Middle 284-302.Weintraub. Israel. People andMiddle East. New Brunswick,1971.Conflict Understanding: Arabs and . Committee,1968.Israeli-Arab non-communication, 11 foundations The Leap of the for_. Landscape—An of theSocio-Psychological Re-K. character a Journal , H. The chologist, International standing 30-31.F. Israel: and 1969.of Disaster )