Twenty years of family therapy in Israel: a personal journey

This article is a personal statement of my beliefs and practice of family therapy, from the time I first introduced the concept to Israel over twenty years ago to the present day. It reflects the evolution and changes in my clinical work against the background of major developments in the field of family therapy.     

PERSONAL SPACE AMONGST ARABS AND AMERICANS*

Personal space zones were examined amongst Arab and American university students by jointly varying degree of acquaintanceship and sex of subject. Overall, there were few differences between Arab and American males. Arab females, however, showed dramatic differences in comparison to American males and females and to Arab males. Arab females kept male friends very far away relative to female friends. Indeed, male friends were kept almost as far away as male strangers.     

SOCIAL DISTANCE NORMS IN CANADA: EFFECTS OF STIMULUS CHARACTERISTICS AND DOGMATISM*

The effects of stimulus person characteristics (viz., race, occupational status, religion, and nationality) and the respondent's level of dogmatism upon the social distance responses of a sample of Canadian university students were examined. Occupational status, race, and nationality of the stimulus person emerged as significant determinants, with occupational status being by far the most important. Dogmatism was also correlated with social distance responses. Highly dogmatic persons, but not those low in dogmatism, focused on occupational status in deciding acceptable bounds of intimacy with others. Several explanations for the prominence of occupational status as a social distance cue are discussed. As well, directions for future research into social distance norms in Canada are suggested.     

Altering contingencies to facilitate compliance with traffic light systems

The effects of altering light pattern sequences on driver compliance at a busy, urban intersection were explored. The baseline light timing sequences resulted in only 46.8% of drivers stopping at the yellow or red lights. Using an A-B-C design, we altered light pattern sequences that increased the probability of drivers stopping at the signals to 88.8% and 98.8%. These findings indicate that traffic light contingencies have potent effects in influencing driver behaviors at busy intersections. Following completion of the study, the traffic engineer approved the permanence of the light timing pattern that increased traffic rule compliance. Accident data collected before and after the light timing changes indicated a reduction in automobile accidents.