Israel on the Couch: The Psychology of the Peace Process (Suny Series in Israeli Studies) [Paperback]

Ofer Grosbard (Author)

Book Description

Series: Suny Series in Israeli Studies | Publication Date: January 9, 2003

Applies clinical pyschology to explain the dynamics of the Middle East peace process.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

"By applying a clinical psychologist's insight into the Israeli-Arab conflict, Ofer Grosbard lays the foundation for a new theory and practice that espouses the use of clinical tools to promote relations between countries, religions, political parties, cultures, and different identities." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

About the Author

"Ofer Grosbard was born in Israel and is a practicing clinical psychologist in the United States. He is the author of A License for Insanity and Arab in His Heart, winner of Book of the Year 2000 by the Hebrew Writers' Association." --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: State University of New York Press; First Edition edition (January 9, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0791456064
• ISBN-13: 978-0791456064
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 1.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,866,726 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Where do I begin to dissect this psychobabble?, May 17, 2006

By 

CAMIE "Never never never give up!" (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel on the Couch: The Psychology of the Peace Process (Suny Series in Israeli Studies) (Paperback)

Will someone please stop psychologists from writing books and making hefty conclusions? Most of modern psychology has been discredited anyway and psychiatry amount to drugging people. I could've stood to hear a cogent philsophical analysis of motivations but that's a book yet to be written. I don't understand how books like this are even published, thick verbose theories with no relevance to reality. Where is the book analyzing Israeli fantasies about the intentions of their neighbors and debunking the bomber as a desperate poor soul instead of someone usually middle class, educated and very young and abused by a toxic culture and child abusers?

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Not enough good ideas, September 6, 2005

By 

Jill Malter ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel on the Couch: The Psychology of the Peace Process (Suny Series in Israeli Studies) (Hardcover)

I think it is always a good idea to think about the psychological aspects of being at war. And Grosbard does want Israelis to modify their behavior, and try to imagine how they appear to others. That's a good idea!

That idea is worth a star! And I gave this book a star.

Behavior modification is a tricky subject. It means accepting truth, not meekly admitting to false accusations. It means being generous and pleasant whenever given a chance to do so. But it also means drawing a line. It does not mean supporting others in criminal behavior. And it certainly does not mean relinquishing any claims (for oneself and one's community) to the human rights of life, liberty, or property.

Unfortunately, this book did not distinguish between appropriate and inappropriate behavior in this regard. It encouraged Jews to accept wild Arab complaints as valid. That's not the way to have harmony among a mixed population!

I also think there needs to be more of a discussion of Arabs on the couch. After all, the Arabs are the ones who can make peace. It might be a good idea if they understood why many Jews do not entirely trust some of them. And it might also be a good idea to see what it could mean to value truth in order to achieve a peace that would result in everyone being happier and more prosperous.

5 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars banal and naive, February 28, 2003

By 

Maenad (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Israel on the Couch: The Psychology of the Peace Process (Suny Series in Israeli Studies) (Paperback)

very few intellectually enriching moments. Mostly banal and naive. Sometimes even offensive. I really am enlightened to know the Jewish analog of a suicide bomber is...Samson! Also the author would be advised to research the Jews displaced and expelled from arab countries in the early 20th century as well as the ongoing Jewish presence in "palestine" as well as the original population of Palestine before new Jews emigrated and began cultivating unusable land (thereby attracting arabs). The total population was about 3/4 million so how could all the current arabs be refugees. In addition, it is a FACT that arab countries encouraged Arabs in Palestine to leave because they thought they'd have a quick victory over Israel. Yes some Arabs were expelled but not in the numbers described, nothing even close. In addition, Jews living in Israel in the early 20th century west bank were viciously attacked in Arab initiated pogroms. I guess Israelis are in denial for not swallowing the propaganda. The author is in denial of history! The palestinian refugees are the worlds oldest! how is it other refugee problems have been settled? Just because something is repeated over and over again (millions of arabs displaced, impossible there werent even a million people in the time period!) doesnt make it true.