Arab Psychology in Global Arab Psychology in Global ContextContext

Uwe P. GielenUwe P. GielenInstitute for International and Cross-Institute for International and Cross-

Cultural PsychologyCultural PsychologySt. Francis College, New York CitySt. Francis College, New York City

Ramadan A. AhmedRamadan A. AhmedKuwait UniversityKuwait University

A Brief History of International A Brief History of International Psychology: BeginningsPsychology: Beginnings

First International Congress of First International Congress of Physiological PsychologyPhysiological Psychology• Paris, France – 1889Paris, France – 1889

Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920)• 190 doctoral students from 10 countries190 doctoral students from 10 countries

Predominately European and North Predominately European and North AmericanAmerican

Main QuestionMain Question

How can Arab psychology strengthen How can Arab psychology strengthen its presence in the emerging global its presence in the emerging global psychology movement while being of psychology movement while being of service to society?service to society?

Response Response

The brief history of international The brief history of international psychological developmentpsychological development

The state of global psychologyThe state of global psychology The state of Arab psychology The state of Arab psychology Establishing an Institute of Arab Establishing an Institute of Arab

PsychologyPsychology

A Brief History of International A Brief History of International Psychology: Post-WWIIPsychology: Post-WWII

American Psychology becomes a American Psychology becomes a “scientific superpower”“scientific superpower”

Monocultural in natureMonocultural in nature

Little awareness of developments Little awareness of developments elsewhere, even in Europeelsewhere, even in Europe

English – THE language of communicationEnglish – THE language of communication

A Brief History of International A Brief History of International Psychology: Recent DevelopmentsPsychology: Recent Developments

EuropeEurope• 300,000 estimated European 300,000 estimated European

Psychologists (Tikkanen, 2005)Psychologists (Tikkanen, 2005)

• European Federation of Psychologists’ European Federation of Psychologists’ Associations (EFPA)Associations (EFPA)

31 countries represented31 countries represented Professional licensing requirementsProfessional licensing requirements

A Brief History of International A Brief History of International Psychology: Recent DevelopmentsPsychology: Recent Developments

South AmericaSouth America• Large number of psychologists (140,000 Large number of psychologists (140,000

licensed psychologists in Brazil alone)licensed psychologists in Brazil alone)

• Fairly limited impact in the international Fairly limited impact in the international arena (rather weak scientific and arena (rather weak scientific and academic base)academic base)

A Brief History of International A Brief History of International Psychology: Recent DevelopmentsPsychology: Recent Developments

East AsiaEast Asia• Relatively fewer psychologistsRelatively fewer psychologists

Japan – 20,000+Japan – 20,000+ China 10,000+China 10,000+

• More rigorous scientific inquiry than in More rigorous scientific inquiry than in South America?South America?

Chinese Government: Psychology one of 18 Chinese Government: Psychology one of 18 scientific disciplines for the 21scientific disciplines for the 21stst century century

Trends in Global PsychologyTrends in Global Psychology

Generally speaking, the richer the country, Generally speaking, the richer the country, the more significant psychology’s rolethe more significant psychology’s role

Other factors Other factors • Education levelEducation level• ModernizationModernization

In emerging countries, psychologists more In emerging countries, psychologists more often found in urban areasoften found in urban areas

Trends in Global PsychologyTrends in Global Psychology

Political and Cultural FactorsPolitical and Cultural Factors• Left and right-wing totalitarian regimes have Left and right-wing totalitarian regimes have

often restricted psychologistsoften restricted psychologists

• Liberal Democratic Governments generally Liberal Democratic Governments generally encourage adoption of psychologyencourage adoption of psychology

• Exceptions: Nazi Germany, Apartheid South Exceptions: Nazi Germany, Apartheid South Africa, (former) German Democratic Republic, Africa, (former) German Democratic Republic, Communist CubaCommunist Cuba

Trends in Global PsychologyTrends in Global Psychology

Psychology has still been able to Psychology has still been able to prosper in a wide variety of settingsprosper in a wide variety of settings• The PhilippinesThe Philippines• Communist CubaCommunist Cuba• Formerly communist RussiaFormerly communist Russia• Theocratic state of IranTheocratic state of Iran• Liberal and largely-secular NetherlandsLiberal and largely-secular Netherlands• ““racially” heterogeneous Brazilracially” heterogeneous Brazil

The Tasks of Global PsychologyThe Tasks of Global Psychology

The worldwide integration of The worldwide integration of psychological developments in a psychological developments in a culturally sensitive wayculturally sensitive way

The creation of a psychology that can The creation of a psychology that can contribute to a universal contribute to a universal consciousness and sense of consciousness and sense of responsibilityresponsibility

The Tasks of Global PsychologyThe Tasks of Global Psychology

Meeting global challenges:Meeting global challenges:• Cognitive-EmotionalCognitive-Emotional – the need for – the need for

empathy and sociocultural role-takingempathy and sociocultural role-taking• MoralMoral – the use of principled ethical – the use of principled ethical

reasoning in an environment of reasoning in an environment of conflicting perspectives and valuesconflicting perspectives and values

• PracticalPractical – the scope of global – the scope of global challenges (i.e. overpopulation, global challenges (i.e. overpopulation, global warming, differences in wealth and warming, differences in wealth and resources)resources)

Arab PsychologyArab Psychology

Where does Arab Psychology fit into the Where does Arab Psychology fit into the global picture?global picture?

Is Arab Psychology visible on the Is Arab Psychology visible on the international stage?international stage?

Has psychology assumed an important Has psychology assumed an important role in the modernization of Arab nations?role in the modernization of Arab nations?

How much is psychology contributing to How much is psychology contributing to the welfare of Arab societies and their the welfare of Arab societies and their members?members?

Arab Psychology - PublicationsArab Psychology - Publications Review of 2,500 publications (Ahmed & Review of 2,500 publications (Ahmed &

Gielen, 1998, 2008)Gielen, 1998, 2008) Bibliography of 5,000 publications Bibliography of 5,000 publications

(Ahmed, 2007)(Ahmed, 2007)

• Steady growth and expansion of psychology in Steady growth and expansion of psychology in the Arab worldthe Arab world

• Broad range of Arab studies being conducted Broad range of Arab studies being conducted in developmental, social, educational, cross-in developmental, social, educational, cross-cultural, and abnormal-clinical psychologycultural, and abnormal-clinical psychology

• Minimal studies in animal, physiological, and Minimal studies in animal, physiological, and experimental psychologyexperimental psychology

Arab Psychology - PublicationsArab Psychology - Publications

Review of # of published studies in Review of # of published studies in PsycINFO in 114 developing countries over PsycINFO in 114 developing countries over a 5-year period (Sánchez-Sosa & Riveros, a 5-year period (Sánchez-Sosa & Riveros, 2007) 2007) • Large variation in research productivity Large variation in research productivity

between Arab countriesbetween Arab countries• Some countries like Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt Some countries like Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt

have global visibility comparable to many have global visibility comparable to many South American and Asian countriesSouth American and Asian countries

• Not fully representative - any studies published Not fully representative - any studies published in languages other than English not countedin languages other than English not counted

Arab Psychology - PublicationsArab Psychology - PublicationsResearch Activity by Psychologists in 19 Countries of the Middle East and North AfricaResearch Activity by Psychologists in 19 Countries of the Middle East and North Africa

CountryCountry Number of Studies Listed in PsycINFO Number of Studies Listed in PsycINFO________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Jordan Jordan 138 138Iraq Iraq 9898Egypt Egypt 9292UAE UAE 7878Kuwait Kuwait 7777Lebanon Lebanon 7373Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 6363Morocco Morocco 4040Oman Oman 2525Sudan Sudan 1919Bahrain Bahrain 1717Syria Syria 1515Algeria Algeria 1313Somalia Somalia 1313Tunisia Tunisia 1212Qatar Qatar 1010Yemen Yemen 1010Libya Libya 3 3Djibouti Djibouti 2 2________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________Total Total 798 798________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NoteNote: The information in this table is taken from Sánchez-Sosa and Riveros (2007, Table 4.5B).: The information in this table is taken from Sánchez-Sosa and Riveros (2007, Table 4.5B).

Arab Psychology - PublicationsArab Psychology - PublicationsResearch Activity by Psychologists in 21 Developing Countries and the Arab WorldResearch Activity by Psychologists in 21 Developing Countries and the Arab World

Country/RegionCountry/Region Number of Studies Listed in PsycINFONumber of Studies Listed in PsycINFO________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________China China 1917 1917India India 835 835Brazil Brazil 812 81219 Arab countries combined 19 Arab countries combined 798 798South Africa South Africa 738 738Mexico Mexico 733 733South Korea South Korea 550 550Thailand Thailand 222 222Nigeria Nigeria 214 214Argentina Argentina 210 210Chile Chile 160 160Uganda Uganda 156 156Kenya Kenya 155 155Jordan Jordan 138 138Malaysia Malaysia 136 136Philippines Philippines 118 118Tanzania Tanzania 118 118Ghana Ghana 114 114Indonesia Indonesia 112 112Pakistan Pakistan 109 109Colombia Colombia 107 107Bangladesh Bangladesh 103 103________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

NoteNote: This table includes only those countries for which PsycINFO listed at least 100 studies for a : This table includes only those countries for which PsycINFO listed at least 100 studies for a 5-year period. All data reported are derived from Sánchez-Sosa and Riveros (2007, Tables 4.1-4.6C).5-year period. All data reported are derived from Sánchez-Sosa and Riveros (2007, Tables 4.1-4.6C).

Arab Psychology – International Arab Psychology – International ConferencesConferences

December 2003 - First Middle East and December 2003 - First Middle East and North Africa Regional Conference of North Africa Regional Conference of Psychology, Dubai, United Arab EmeritesPsychology, Dubai, United Arab Emerites

• Participants from 35 countries including 17 Participants from 35 countries including 17 neighboring statesneighboring states

April/May 2007 - Second Middle East and April/May 2007 - Second Middle East and North Africa Regional Conference in in North Africa Regional Conference in in Amman, JordanAmman, Jordan

• Participants from 28 countries including 15 Participants from 28 countries including 15 countries in the Middle East and North Africa countries in the Middle East and North Africa region (Knowles & Sabourin, 2008)region (Knowles & Sabourin, 2008)

Arab Psychology – International Arab Psychology – International ConferencesConferences

Kuwait University: Three Kuwait University: Three International Conferences in the International Conferences in the Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies (Third Conference: December Studies (Third Conference: December 2006)2006)

Arab Psychology – LimitationsArab Psychology – Limitations

Most Arab studies conducted by a Most Arab studies conducted by a single researcher, imitative of single researcher, imitative of Western studies, and tool-oriented Western studies, and tool-oriented rather than problem-centered rather than problem-centered (Soueif, 1998) (Soueif, 1998)

Arab psychologists have not Arab psychologists have not sufficiently indigenized their theories sufficiently indigenized their theories and research programsand research programs

Arab Psychology – LimitationsArab Psychology – Limitations

Arab psychologists have not Arab psychologists have not developed original theoretical developed original theoretical frameworksframeworks

Arab psychologists are not Arab psychologists are not sufficiently visible in the global arenasufficiently visible in the global arena

An Institute of Arab Psychology – A An Institute of Arab Psychology – A Modest ProposalModest Proposal

A center for interdisciplinary A center for interdisciplinary cooperation in the context of joint cooperation in the context of joint research projectsresearch projects

A model for establishing a “research A model for establishing a “research culture” based on collaboration culture” based on collaboration between researchers from both Arab between researchers from both Arab and non-Arab nationsand non-Arab nations

An Institute of Arab Psychology – A An Institute of Arab Psychology – A Modest ProposalModest Proposal

A venue for organizing conferences, A venue for organizing conferences, workshops, and courses in workshops, and courses in psychologypsychology

The institute should focus on The institute should focus on scientific work and training of direct scientific work and training of direct and indirect use to the surrounding and indirect use to the surrounding societysociety

An Institute of Arab Psychology – A An Institute of Arab Psychology – A Modest ProposalModest Proposal

The Institute should include a library The Institute should include a library that contains books, articles, that contains books, articles, chapters, unpublished dissertations, chapters, unpublished dissertations, master’s theses, published and master’s theses, published and unpublished research reports, unpublished research reports, psychological tests, and other psychological tests, and other materials that are relevant to Arab materials that are relevant to Arab psychologistspsychologists

An Institute of Arab Psychology – A An Institute of Arab Psychology – A Modest ProposalModest Proposal

The Institute could publish a periodic The Institute could publish a periodic Survey of Arab PsychologySurvey of Arab Psychology

The Institute should be fully The Institute should be fully integrated into a university setting integrated into a university setting while, at the same time, conducting while, at the same time, conducting its work on a relatively independent its work on a relatively independent basis. Kuwait University is one such basis. Kuwait University is one such place where this may be possibleplace where this may be possible

ConclusionsConclusions Psychology is prospering in many non-Psychology is prospering in many non-

Western countriesWestern countries• The International Union of Psychological The International Union of Psychological

Science includes 71 national psychology Science includes 71 national psychology associations on all inhabited continentsassociations on all inhabited continents

Psychology in many Arab countries, while Psychology in many Arab countries, while steadily developing, has fallen behind in steadily developing, has fallen behind in relation to some other economically, relation to some other economically, politically, and culturally emerging regions politically, and culturally emerging regions of the world, especially in East Asia and of the world, especially in East Asia and parts of Latin America. parts of Latin America.

ConclusionsConclusions

The establishment of a financially The establishment of a financially well endowed, creatively led, and well endowed, creatively led, and university-connected yet partially university-connected yet partially independent Institute for Arab independent Institute for Arab Psychology would constitute a Psychology would constitute a significant step toward making Arab significant step toward making Arab psychology a more significant force psychology a more significant force in Global Psychologyin Global Psychology

References References Ahmed, R. A. (2004). Psychology in Egypt. In M. J. Ahmed, R. A. (2004). Psychology in Egypt. In M. J.

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Ahmed, R. A., & Gielen, U. P. (Eds.).(2008). Ahmed, R. A., & Gielen, U. P. (Eds.).(2008). Psychology Psychology in the Arab countriesin the Arab countries. Cairo, Egypt: Supreme Culture . Cairo, Egypt: Supreme Culture Council. (in Arabic)Council. (in Arabic)

Gielen, U. P. (in press). Arab psychology and the Gielen, U. P. (in press). Arab psychology and the emerging global psychology movement. In A. Aksu-Koc emerging global psychology movement. In A. Aksu-Koc & S. Bekman (Eds.), & S. Bekman (Eds.), Perspectives on human Perspectives on human development, family and culture.development, family and culture. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press. Cambridge University Press.

ReferencesReferences Knowles, M., & Sabourin, M. (2008). Psychology Knowles, M., & Sabourin, M. (2008). Psychology

and modern lifeand modern life challenges: challenges: The 2The 2ndnd Middle East Middle East and North Africa regional conference of and North Africa regional conference of psychology, Amman, Jordan, 2007. psychology, Amman, Jordan, 2007. International International Journal of Psychology, 43 Journal of Psychology, 43 (2), 130-139.(2), 130-139.

SSánchez-Sosa, J. J., & Riveros, A. (2007). Theory, ánchez-Sosa, J. J., & Riveros, A. (2007). Theory, research, and practice in Psychology in the research, and practice in Psychology in the developing (majority) world. In M. J. Stevens & U. developing (majority) world. In M. J. Stevens & U. P. Gielen (Eds.), P. Gielen (Eds.), Toward a global psychology: Toward a global psychology: Theory, research, intervention, and pedagogy Theory, research, intervention, and pedagogy (pp. 101-146). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.(pp. 101-146). Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.

AcknowledgementsAcknowledgements During 2002 and 2006 The first author was given the During 2002 and 2006 The first author was given the

opportunity to visit the Psychology Department at Kuwait opportunity to visit the Psychology Department at Kuwait University as part of two invitations extended respectively University as part of two invitations extended respectively by the College of Graduate Studies and the College of by the College of Graduate Studies and the College of Social Sciences, in order to review the departmental Social Sciences, in order to review the departmental graduate and undergraduate programs. I am deeply graduate and undergraduate programs. I am deeply grateful to the deans, administrators, and members of the grateful to the deans, administrators, and members of the Psychology Department for their warm hospitality and their Psychology Department for their warm hospitality and their openness with which they discussed the programs and the openness with which they discussed the programs and the overall situation of the department during my two visits. I overall situation of the department during my two visits. I am also indebted to Juris G. Draguns and Harold Takooshian am also indebted to Juris G. Draguns and Harold Takooshian for discussing with me their observations during our joint for discussing with me their observations during our joint visit to Kuwait University in 2006. This paper constitutes an visit to Kuwait University in 2006. This paper constitutes an attempt to extend and broaden my report to the College of attempt to extend and broaden my report to the College of Graduate Studies (Gielen, 2002) and the joint report by Graduate Studies (Gielen, 2002) and the joint report by Professor Draguns (Pennsylvania State University) and I to Professor Draguns (Pennsylvania State University) and I to the College of Social Sciences (Draguns & Gielen, 2006), by the College of Social Sciences (Draguns & Gielen, 2006), by adding a few suggestions about how psychologists might adding a few suggestions about how psychologists might contribute even further to the academic excellence of contribute even further to the academic excellence of Kuwait University in the wider context of Arab psychology.Kuwait University in the wider context of Arab psychology.