Clinical psychologists do politics: Attitudes and reactions of Israeli psychologists toward the political

Abstract

This article presents an analysis of a survey among Israeli clinical psycholo- gists, examining their attitudes towards diverse political issues. The survey involved the distribution of 600 questionnaires, 115 of which were returned. Within this framework, psychologists were asked to relate to questions regarding political issues in psychotherapy and the ways of dealing with them, socio-political issues in psychology studies and training processes, socio-political involvement of psychologists as citizens or as professionals, and more. This inquiry enabled the current state of affairs to be portrayed with regard to common professional-political conceptions and stances toward political aspects of psycho- therapeutic work. The survey's fi ndings point to a divide within the Israeli psychologist community, as expressed by divergent and contradictory opinions that arise in response to a sizable portion of the issues examined. It is quite possible that this rift marks a process of change and indicates the decline of the conservative psychodynamic conceptual system. This theo- retical perspective had, up until recently, a hegemonic position within the Israeli psycho- therapeutic milieu. In most cases this standpoint was applied in a dogmatic manner, justifying a passive social-political stance in the name of anonymity and neutrality. It appears that still, today, this epistemic position is predominant within the Israeli psycho- therapeutic culture. However, nowadays, a large minority of Israeli clinical psychologists seems to be sensitive to different political aspects of psychotherapy and favourable toward working in a politically informed and socially responsible manner. As political issues are almost entirely absent from psychology academic programs and clinical training processes, there is much confusion and helplessness as to how such issues and phenomena should be treated in therapy. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.