Comments on Brandow's “ideology,myth, and reality: Sex equality in Israel”

Brandow's claim that the myth of equality between the sexes in Israel is alive, while in fact equality is nonexistent, is critically reviewed. Brandow's work is seen as problematic in its methodology and in its representation of the extensive research conducted on equality in Israel. On the basis of the available data, the present authors provide more information about the themes touched upon in Brandow's article. The duality of religious and secualr values and legislation, occupational status of women, women's education, the military role of women, and the role division between wives and husbands are presented and discussed. The conclusion is that the area of equality of the sexes in Israel is marked by continuous gains in societal balance.     

Patterns of intellectual ability of Arab school children in Israel

Following a series of studies investigating the Arab pattern of intellectual ability with young children, and utilizing the WPPSI, the present study aimed to test the generality of these findings on a wider range of Ss, 6 to 16, and used the new Arabic WISC-R as the measurement instrument. The results supported the former conclusions concerning a distinct Arab profile noted for its relative superiority in the Verbal as compared to the Performance IQs. This pattern tends to diminish with age, as a flat profile seems to emerge in adolescence. An environmental explanation is offered to account for these results.     

Trial by polygraph: Scientific and juridical issues in lie detection

The present article examines two methods of polygraph-assisted lie detection: the Control Question Technique (CQT) and the Guilty Knowledge Technique (GKT). It presents the rationale for both, arguing that only the latter is well grounded in psychological theory. It then surveys the empirical support for claims of the polygraph's ability to detect deception, arguing that such support often comes from studies that are methodologically flawed by contamination of various sorts—especially studies of the CQT. The article then explores the legal implications of introducing polygraph test results, as presently gathered, into the criminal courtroom.     

Antecedents of Envy Reaction

Antecedents of envy were studied in a multivariate design by means of a semi-projective questionnaire depicting stories of the differential fates of two heroes. Thirty Ss participated. The results supported the predictions that the content and intensity of satisfaction of the other, as well as background information about the heroes describing the “requirements of justice” for both of them, were systematically related to the intensity of envy reaction. Theoretical implications are discussed, mainly relating to Heider's Cognitive Balance Theory.     

Self-reported mental problems in boys and girls: Preliminary findings

Previous research has reported higher frequency in boys than in girls of all psychopathological categories in childhood, and a reversal of the genders' ratio for adolescence and onwards. All studies about childhood mental health are based on referral by adults. The present study evaluated the prevalence of psychopathology in three age groups in childhood and adolescence, in both genders, using a new self-report scale of mental health problems for children and adolescents. Social desirability was measured separately. Five hundred sixteen school children in the fifth, seventh, and ninth grades were tested. Using the total mental health score, the study found that boys reported more disorders than girls in the two younger age groups, while the reverse was found in the oldest one. However, when social desirability was statistically controlled, the reversal phenomenon disappeared. In separate analyses of the subscales it was found that boys report more behavior problems, girls report more emotional problems in the youngest and oldest age groups, and both genders report an equal amount of school maladjustment. The results are discussed with regard to the importance of self-report and the control of social desirability.This study was conducted as an M.A. thesis in psychology by the first author, under the supervision of the second and third authors.