A qualitative study among 22 young adults (20-25 years old) whose parents divorced during their childhood was conducted in Israel, using semi-structured, in-depth, open-ended interviews. Qualitative data analysis led to identification of three profiles, aiming at a grounded theoretical conceptualization. Three core themes were identified: the…

Although there is considerable evidence that culture-related factors are associated with aggressive behavior, their effect on the development of conduct problems (CP) has been insufficiently studied. This study focused on adherence to honor code (AHC), defined by the endorsement of honor culture attitudes at the identity narrative level of…

This is the 1st longitudinal examination of trajectories of resilience and resistance (rather than ill-being) among a national sample under ongoing threat of mass casualty. The authors interviewed a nationally representative sample of Jews and Arabs in Israel (N = 709) at 2 times during a period of terrorist and rocket attacks (2004?2005). The…

The physical and social image of the scientist among school children, student teachers, and teachers over the last 50 years was investigated. Interest has also been shown in the perception of the personality behind the physical stereotype. Nevertheless, the value judgments of science and scientists and the positive and negative mind-sets attaching…

The resilience of teachers in the face of terror was examined in a narrative study of two Israeli kindergarten teachers over the course of one school year. During this time, there occurred frequent terror attacks as well as the threat of impending war with Iraq and the concomitant threat of chemical warfare. Each teacher's unique pattern of coping…

This study examined emotional responding (sympathy and distress) and prosocial behavior as well as their relations across four cultures in a specific context. Preschool children (N = 212) from two Western cultures, Germany and Israel, and two South-East Asian cultures, Indonesia and Malaysia, participated in this study. Children's emotional…

The paper presents a comprehensive review and integration of available studies on the effects of severe traumatic experiences on children, especially in the context of short and enduring exposure to harsh events and adversities, as they relate to children who live in violent war zones, in particular in Israel and the Palestinian territories. The…

Asking questions is an activity central to inquiry learning. This research examined documents created during an open inquiry learning process of the Biomind programme for Israeli high school students. In addition, to understand how students express and develop curiosity in learning, we observed students during a molecular biology lesson, a subject…

Specifies parameters of adolescent girls in distress in terms of behavioral and personality features. Discusses main characteristics of adolescents, females, and those in social distress. Develops an integrative theoretical model that illustrates uniqueness of this group and its problems. Concludes that needs of this group require establishment of…

The study examined children's self-reported socio-emotional characteristics (loneliness and sense of coherence) and perception of their homeroom teacher as a secure base among 3rd-graders with reading difficulties prior to formal diagnostic assessment, thus controlling for the possible impact of diagnosis. In line with resilience theory, this…

A paradigm conceptualizing resilience as factors moderating between political violence exposure and psychological distress administered in a 7-year research project yielded a profile of factors promoting Israeli children's coping in conflict conditions. Three factors--social support mobilization, self-efficacy, and meaning attribution--were…

Explores the relationships between defensive style (repression-sensitization) and Jewish religiosity and death concerns in the context of differential levels of awareness of 64 Israeli students. Found that the personality attribute of defensive style was linked systematically to death concern at all levels of consciousness. Religiosity was less…

The accounts of 37 17-year-old religious Zionist female adolescents in a boarding school in Israel show that they experience adolescence as a intense period of religious fortification and conflict between religious and secular societal values. Implications for female coming of age are discussed. (SLD)

Sixteen 17-year-old kibbutz members, including 7 hashish smokers and 9 nonsmokers, assessed the probability that a young person of similar background would use drugs. It was found that hashish smokers assigned meaningful importance to a combined influence of personal predisposition and group pressure, while the nonsmokers considered only group…

Examined association of fear of personal death and aspects of psychological maladjustment and moderating impact of personal losses among 97 middle-aged Israeli men. Found that Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory profile was significantly related to pattern of fear of personal death. Association only reached significance among subjects who…