MIDDLE EAST AND
Mike Knowles
The first Middle East and North
Africa Regional Conference of Psychology (MENA RCP) was held in Dubai, United
Arab Emirates, December 13 – 18, 2003, under the auspices of the International
Union of Psychological Science (IUPsyS), the
International Association of Applied Psychology (IAAP), and the International
Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology (IACCP). It was organized by a local Conference
Committee and by the
Le premier Congrès régional de
psychologie du Moyen-Orient et de l’Afrique du Nord (MOAN) s’est tenu à Dubai,
Émirats Arabes Unis, du 13 au 18 décembre 2003, sous l’égide de l’Union
internationale de psychologie scientifique (UIPsyS), de l’Association
internationale de psychologie appliquée (AIPA) et de l’Association
internationale de psychologie inter-culturelle (AIPIC). Ce congrès a été organisé par un comité local
et par l’Association de psychologie du Yémen (APY), en collaboration avec
l’Association égyptienne d’études psychologiques (AEEP). Les participants à ce congrès provenaient
d’un total de 35 pays, et jamais auparavant on n’avait retrouvé autant de
psychologues de la région (en provenance de 17 des 21 pays du MOAN ) assistant
à un même congrès. Les délégués choisis
pour assister à un atelier offert par lUIPsyS sur le développement associatif,
lesquels, pour la plupart, occupent des fonctions de direction au sein de leur
association nationale, ont profité de l’occasion pour endosser une Déclaration
officielle, à l’effet de créer au cours de l’année à venir un Conseil régional
des associations arabes de psychologie et de voir à organiser un deuxième
congrès régional à Amman, en Jordanie, en 2005.
Resumen
Se realizó en Dubai, Emiratos Árabes Unidos, del
13 al 18 de diciembre de 2003, la primera Conferencia Regional de Psicología
del Oriente Medio y África del Norte (CRP-OMAN), bajo los auspicios de la Unión
Internacional de Psicología Científica
(UIPsiC), la Asociación Internacional de Psicología Aplicada (AIPA), y
la Asociación Internacional de Psicología Transcultural (AIPT). Un comité local
y la Asociación Psicológica de Yemen (APY) la organizaron en colaboración con
la Asociación Egipcia de Estudios Psicológicos (AEEP). Uno de los mayores
logros de la conferencia fue la gran participación de delegados de 35 países,
incluyendo 17 de los 21 de la región del Oriente Medio y África del Norte. Los delegados, muchos
de ellos líderes de su respectiva asociación psicológica nacional, quienes
también participaron en el Taller de Construcción de Capacidad Nacional,
organizado por la IUPsyS, firmaron una Declaración oficial para crear un
Consejo Regional de asociaciones psicológicas árabes en el curso del siguiente
año y organizar una segunda versión de esta conferencia regional en Amman,
Jordania en 2005.
General Idea
The
Specific Idea
The present regional conference was hosted by
the Yemen Psychological Association and the Conference Organizing Committee in
Historical Background
of Psychology in the Region
An interest in psychology has been present in
the Muslim and the Arab world since the 9th century, when Muslim
scholars began to propose more or less scientific explanations concerning a
wide variety of modern-day psychological concepts. But even in more ancient times, the Egyptians
had already attempted to explain phenomena like hysteria, epilepsy, delusions
and dreams by using psychological and philosophical concepts, and they had even
attempted to treat some mental abnormalities.
Hence, for many of the present-day nations in
the
The scientific study of psychology commenced in
the early decades of the 20th Century, building on the context of
this ancient heritage.
Current Economic and
Political Conditions
The countries from which the conference
delegates came varied considerably in terms of economic prosperity, from
developing economies to highly developed economies. Thus the mix of fields
represented was not even, although by international standards most participants
worked in developing economies. This may
help to explain the relative absence of fields such as organizational
psychology, the moderate development of private practice which was not broadly
represented across the region, and the fact that there were few presentations
from areas such as cognitive psychology or neuropsychology which require
laboratory facilities not readily available in most countries of the region.
There were many presentations focused on
conflict and conflict resolution, not surprising given that a number of the
countries in the region had experienced or were caught up in states of war and
terrorism, with devastating effects upon the physical and psychological
welfares of populations enmeshed in these traumatic situations. The theme of conflict and conflict resolution
was also reflected in the general theme of the Conference – Psychology for
Peace and Sustainable Development.
The Scientific Program
The Scientific Program was structured around
several principal themes: Clinical and Health Psychology in the Middle East,
Educational and School Psychology in the Middle East, and Peace Psychology and
Conflict Resolution. Other smaller but
clearly identifiable themes included the psychology of women, Islam and
psychology, Cyber-psychology, special issues in the region, and Cross-cultural psychology.
Two days of workshops concluded the Conference. The following is a review of the Scientific
Program and the workshops. Although not exhaustive, the goal of the review is
to capture the essence of the presentations included in the major themes.
Keynote Address at the
Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony keynote, titled
“Globalization for the Common Good: Economists and Psychologists Building
Cultures of Peace” was
delivered by Dr Kaman Mofid, an economist. Mofid discussed that he has spent most of his academic life
lecturing on the standard neo-classical model of economics which, in his words,
has ‘squeezed almost all psychological content out of economics’. Along with an increasing number of other
economists, he has realized that the assumption that people act as rational
selfish maximisers is no longer tenable.
He described how current models of economic decision making are more
complex than this and assume that people act in accordance with personal and
social preferences, which are, in turn, affected by their cultures and their
identities. Mofid's address
drew upon the work of Daniel Kahneman, a psychologist
who was awarded the Nobel Prize for Economics in 2002, for his work toward
changing the nature of economic thinking through fostering an understanding of
behaviour at the individual and group levels as well as at the level of
culture, politics and ethnicity. The themes of understanding
globalization in its human and its economic dimensions were echoed by many of
the topics comprising the Conference’s Scientific Program.
Clinical and Health
Psychology in the
Keynote Addresses and Symposia dealt with two
aspects of clinical and health psychology.
One concerned psychological challenges experienced by patients such as
mental, emotional, school, sexual, domestic violence, stress, anxiety, burnout,
neuroticism, self-harm and drug abuse problems; problems experienced by
patients with special medical conditions such as epilepsy, heart disease,
irritable bowel syndrome, hyperthyroidism, AIDS; and problems of patients with
special mental conditions such as schizophrenia, phobia and depression.
A second set of presentations addressed the
challenge of changing the health care system to give attention to the
psychological dimensions of physical illness and recovery, including the role
of a healthy lifestyle in the prevention of disease and illness. One example is the medical undergraduate
degree at the
Educational and School
Psychology in the
This sequence of Keynote Addresses and Symposia
primarily addressed issues at school and university. At the school level presentations examined
the connection between time management and performance anxiety, a trial program
for talented children, and the impact of co-education on the educational
achievements, behaviours, and cultural beliefs of teenagers.
Research presentations on the university
included topics such as students’ attitudes toward marriage to a relative; the
effect of military service on students’ personality, social adjustment, and
political, religious and national orientations; a comparison of the educational
achievement of combatant and non-combatant students; the orientation of
students toward violence; and changing attitudes of students with psychological
disorders to using the services of a psychological clinic.
A third sequence dealt with special problems in
education such as stuttering, learning disability and parental adjustment of
children with such a disability, the issue of inclusion and whether or not
children with disabilities should be placed in general education classrooms at
pre-kindergarten and primary school levels, and information and parental
acceptance of child handicaps.
Peace Psychology and Conflict Resolution
Peace Psychology and Conflict Resolution
constituted a distinctive part of the Scientific Program. These themes assumed
particular relevance in a region affected by wars between and within nations.
One aim of the Conference was to contribute toward preventing fighting and
violence. In one sequence of this theme, Keynote Addresses and Symposia
examined issues such as the psychological health of victims of war and terrorism,
both of which create psychological states of extreme fear, anxiety and
depression. In addition, war and
terrorism profoundly alter relationships and frequently lead to increasing
violence within the family. Women are
especially affected by these traumatic circumstances and a very moving and
powerful account was given of women who are expected to rejoice in the
martyrdom of victims on behalf of the state, even when they experienced
devastating physical, psychological and economic consequences in their personal
lives, due to the loss of husbands and sons.
A second stream of presentations addressed
therapeutic techniques to foster recovery from trauma as well as ways to
develop skills in integrating seemingly opposing cultural values wherever the
conflict occurs. For example, Western approaches
and methods of treatment (e.g. cognitive behaviour therapy, a changing emphasis
from post-traumatic stress to post-traumatic growth) were compared with Eastern
techniques of healing (e.g. those based upon ancient Hindu tantric
concepts of love and the Buddhist concept of compassion). A novel method of ‘street therapy’ was
described and illustrated, as well as other models of community healing around
the world and unique model of integrating Western and Eastern approaches with
the aim of achieving both inner and outer peace.
Psychology of Women
In a number of the countries within the region
of the
Other presentations examined special problems
faced by women including low levels of literacy, unwanted pregnancy and
domestic violence. For example, research
from
Other presentations addressed unwanted
pregnancy and family planning programs and issues such as concerns about
contraception side-effects and health and alternative methods, including
psychopharmacology. Studies addressing
domestic violence presented research under ‘abnormal’ social conditions on families
that lived continuously in the violent circumstances of prolonged war. One study reported that one consequence of
this was an increase in family disintegration and in sexual violence within the
family. A second study described the
role of women in such war-torn countries where women participate as warriors,
combatants, spies or carriers of messages, as well as support groups to
mobilize communities to spread messages of peace and work toward developing a
culture of peace.
Other studies concerned domestic violence in
‘normal’ societal conditions. These reports addressed the paradoxical fact that
most abused wives blamed themselves for the abuse and continued to stay within
the marriage.
Islam and Psychology
Many psychological practices utilized in
Western societies are based upon empirical methodologies which, from an Islamic
perspective, neglect the Islamic teachings and tenets on psyche, mental health
and spiritual values. Thus, the
challenge facing Muslim psychologists is to identify courses of action that
integrate psychological techniques with their religious beliefs as formulated
by the Qur’an and the Doctrines, Statements and Acts
of the Religion of Islam.
While the development of an Islamic or Taassil psychology is still in the making, specific
examples of how this is being achieved in professional practice were
illustrated in the areas of guidance and counselling as well as in the
treatment of anxiety, depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. As was pointed out, Islam also advocates the
practice of self-reliance in bettering individual and societal welfare, as the
following quotation illustrates: “Verily! Allah will not change the (good)
condition of a people as long as they do not change their state (of goodness)
themselves,” (Qur’an, Surah
Another study examined the attitudes of young
women to Islamic and Western cultures where it was found that an overwhelming
majority held the belief that the culture of Islam offers more respect toward
women than do Western cultures, with these women also wanting to keep the practice
of wearing the veil.
Cyber-Psychology
The technological advances which have being
made with the advent of the internet and allowed for broad communication
have affected psychology in many positive ways. For example, it was reported that a primary
health care initiative in
Another major development discussed was the
creation of Islamonline.net over
three years ago in order to take advantage of privacy and interactivity that
the internet affords, and its special suitability for conservative
communities. It currently has attracted
over 1,000 inquiries from all over the world covering a long list of issues as
diverse as drug addiction, interfaith marital issues, self-development,
homosexuality and identity crisis.
The internet has also been used in an
educational setting where, it was reported, a WebCT
Interface was established enabling students from Israel and elsewhere in the
Middle East to discuss didactic and personal issues among themselves, with a
view to enhancing learning, fostering the development of a diversity of
viewpoints, promoting cross-cultural communication and understanding, and
contributing towards the prevention and resolution of conflict.
Special Issues in the Region
In addition to the impact that technology and the
internet is having on the way psychology is practiced in the Middle East and
North Africa, other issues arise in this region of the world which, although not
specific to it, are typical of it. One
concerns the experience of expatriation, which is now common in many countries
as a result of the increasing globalization of the world’s economy, and is
particularly widespread in many parts of the
A second paper dealt with problems in the
expatriate workforce due to the fact that the majority of expatriate employees
have different national and linguistic backgrounds. Because they all work in
the same organizational units, their managers are faced with special
difficulties in establishing effective levels of communication and developing
effective team spirit within the work groups.
A third paper in the area of environmental
psychology described aspects of the rapid degradation of the global environment
and the need to develop programs of sustainable development that bring together
psychological, social, economic and political issues. The psychological aspects identified in the
paper included needs, attitudes and values, and social issues involving conflict
and aggression.
Cross-cultural Psychology
In contrast
to a number of the papers referred to above which dealt with the emic (a perspective that uses the concepts and categories
that are relevant and meaningful to the people studied in organizing and
interpreting data) aspects of culture in North Africa and the Middle East, one
group of Keynote Addresses and Symposia in cross-cultural psychology continued
this theme by examining differences between individualistic and collectivistic
cultures. As was noted, much of
main-stream psychology has been developed in the individualistic cultures of
A second
stream of Keynote Addresses and Symposia approached the question of culture
from the opposite direction and examined etic (using
an outside observer’s pre-established categories for organizing and
interpreting data, rather than categories established within the culture being
studied) differences between various countries.
In perhaps the most comprehensive pieces of research conducted in this
area to date, a map of over 70 cultures around the world was presented in which
eight cultural regions were identified, each distinctive in terms of seven
cultural value orientations. Each of
these regions was characterized by a coherence of culture, and each differed
from the other in systematic ways. This
has important implications for another piece of research dealing with the
policies and practices of multinational companies that are at the heart of the
current movement of globalization.
Issues discussed included whether or not these multinational organizations
operate in similar or different ways at their widely different locations, and
the extent to which work motivation, team work and leadership vary from one
location to another.
The question of similarity and difference
between cultures also spanned many other issues. For example, it was reported from a
comprehensive study involving over 60,000 school children that there were no
differences in cognitive ability across the 30 countries included in the
sample. This is important information,
given the media attention this question attracts, and counters some of the
opinions sensationalized in the press that are derived from hearsay and
prejudice rather than systematic empirical research.
In other areas of psychological testing,
however, the situation is more complex, raising
the question of the utility of Western tests (and
intervention programs) beyond their cultures of origin. It was also observed
that the quality of the research in the area depends upon the soundness of the
methodologies that are used.
On the second day of the conference, a
special 5-hour workshop was held with invited representatives of the national
psychological association or societies (current or in development) of the MENA
region. Most participants held
leadership or administrative positions.
This workshop was organized under the initiative of the International
Union of Psychological Science and coordinated by Prof. Ype
Poortinga (
Two days of workshops following the Scientific
Program offered delegates the opportunity to work in small groups in close
collaboration with the workshop presenters.
The workshop program dealt with three specific issues: the
identification of talent, balancing life demands and avoiding stress and
burnout, and debriefing after critical incidents in order to increase the
validity of eyewitness testimony.
Successful conferences such as this do not
happen without much work on the part of a dedicated few. It is fitting to pay tribute to the
Conference President, Raymond H. Hamden, the Chair of the Scientific Program Committee,
Hassan Kassim Khan, and Eva
Bruyninckx-Gerard, the Chair of the Secretariat
Committee, as well as all the committee members. In addition, the Conference organizers
acknowledged the support of the members of the Scientific Advisory Council and
those acting as Liaison for the three sponsoring international organizations:
Michel Sabourin, Treasurer of IUPsyS,
Mike Knowles, President Elect of IAAP, and Klaus Boehnke,
Secretary General of IACCP. Appreciation
is also extended for the financial contributions of the American Psychological
Foundation, German Federation of Psychological Associations, IAAP, IACCP, IUPsyS, and a private donor.
As mentioned above, this Regional Conference,
initiated by the International Union of Psychological Science and fully supported
by both the International Association of Applied Psychology and the
International Association for Cross-Cultural Psychology, was organized to
gather together psychologists mainly from the Arabic speaking world and to
foster the development of academic and professional psychology in all countries
of the Middle East and North Africa region.
The quality of the papers presented at the conference, the active
involvement of so many participants in the many discussion periods, and the
spirit of goodwill that prevailed throughout the conference, all attest to its
outstanding success. Time and again
participants commented upon the benefits they obtained from attending such
informative sessions and the professional support they derived from meeting,
getting to know and networking with colleagues from their own and other
countries. There were two indicators of
just how effective the conference was.
The first was to consider it worthy to dedicate the conference to
Professor Fouad Abu Hattab
of
The 1st MENA Regional Conference of
Psychology was held in
All through the Conference, issues related to
the development and improvement of psychology through the Arab world were
highlighted and emphasized. This led to
the need to coordinate the efforts among the national psychological
associations already in existence or in the process of formation in different Arab
countries. Therefore it was decided to
establish a professional body to strengthen collaborative work across these
associations.
The following points were adopted:
All the participants of the National Capacity
Building Workshop who have signed this Declaration would like to thank the
international and local psychological associations for the organization and the
hosting of the 1st MENA RCP.