ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the Arab culture which fits the description of the non-Western cultures. On the whole, it is considered a collectivistic society in which the family, community, and religion are more important than the individual. Multiculturalism has become an important discipline and a primary source for explaining human development and functioning. Mental health professionals agree that awareness of cultural influences is essential for understanding clients, and they use common knowledge about each unique culture to predict their behavior. Non-Western groups have common cultural codes of behavior and restrictions that stem from the social structure of their families and communities. The family is patriarchal; males—particularly the father and eldest son—have dominant roles. Owing to these cultural structures and norms, one might expect Arab children and adolescents to inhibit their behavior in groups and for this to be reflected in the content of their disclosures.
