The Arab Mind

Recently, I have been discussing "cultural sensitivity" - I prefer the term "cultural awareness" - with my colleagues. I covered the topic earlier concerning the British Brigadier who said of our military that, "at times their cultural insensitivity, almost certainly inadvertent, arguably amounted to institutional racism".

I don't believe we are racist towards the Iraqis or Arabs, but rather many of us have no idea what makes them tick. The reason this is, IMO, is that their culture and way of thinking is radically different than the traditional "Western" mindset. I've been to the Middle East at least ten times since 1991, and each time have been amazed and puzzled at the way Arabs act. Sometimes they seem incredibly friendly, and other times they look at you like you are a science experiment.

The first time I was ever in Dubai, a colleague and I laughed as we watched a man drive his Land Rover up onto the curb and then park. He hopped out like he owned the place, and started strolling down the sidewalk towards me and my Arabic speaking buddy. The man was dressed in a very formal thobe ("man-dress"), khaffiya (Arab doo-rag), and sharp looking sports jacket. His prayer beads were swinging away rhythmically in his hand as he stopped in front of us, smiling. My buddy greeted him with a proper "Salaam alaykum", which was returned with the obligatory "Wa alaykum es salaam", followed by a "How are you doing?" in excellent colloquial English. After they spoke in Arabic for a few minutes about things I didn't understand, we all proceeded to a little restaurant together to have coffee and sweets. During the conversation we discussed the political situation in Kuwait. I asked him what he thought of the Kuwaitis. He became suddenly animated and said, "Kuwaitis are dirty. Dirty Kuwaitis. They are like the Jews of the Arabs. Greedy Kuwaitis. They get what they deserve!" I never got a decent explanation of what he meant by "dirty", but it was evident he didn't like Kuwaitis. You could see it in his eyes that he was absolutely committed to his position, and he felt the need to verbalize it.

Arabs tend to verbalize their desires even though they don't have any intention of acting out on them. They tend to talk in extremes in order to compare and contrast. The spoken word and emotion have great importance to Arabs. Rafael Patai describes this well in his book called, The Arab Mind; I recommend this book to all my colleagues. It's a rather dull read, but incredibly fascinating nonetheless. I will give you a taste of what he says:

For the Western mind, the strangest and most fascinating of all these contrasts is undoubtedly that between self-control and uncontrolled outbursts of emotionalism, or the related opposites of lethargy and upsurges of activity. This is something quite foreign to the Western outlook, which expects each individual to steer an even course rather than veer from one extreme to the other. If, in exceptional circumstances, a Westerner is provoked to doing something that is contrary to his usually controlled behavior, he is excused, or excuses himself, with having momentarily lost his head; and he usually makes a firm resolve never to let such a damaging thing happen to him again.

In the Arab world, no such onus attaches to loss of self-control or out burst of temper. Quite the contrary: such seizures are expected to happen from time to time, because is the Arab view of human nature no person is supposed to be able to maintain incessant, uninterrupted control over himself. Any event that is outside routine everyday occurrence can trigger such a loss of control and turn the docile, friendly, and courteous Jekyll into a raging, dangerous, and maniacal Hyde, who will return to his former self as soon as the temper passes."

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Observations of this quick change from quiet self-control to uncontrollable outbursts of temper abound. Sania Hamady discusses the subject in some detail, showing how Arab emotionalism expresses itself in many areas. "The Arab communicates by shouting accompanied with signs of anger." When bargaining in the market place, he yells and squabbles. When hurt, he "expresses his pain freely by words, sounds, and gestures. He talks and complains about it openly, manifesting his sufferings by groaning, moaning, and crying." When death occurs, "his culture allows him outbursts of emotional behavior. Even more, he is supposed to show his emotions and his sorrow openly - he must weep and exhibit his pain and misery." The women wail in loud cries, and men also lament. A demonstration of feelings under heavy affliction is not considered unmanly. As to anger, the Arab is intensely susceptible to it. He flares up easily, and does not refrain from outbursts; and, once aroused, his wrath has no limits. Quarrels in the family are everyday occurrences. "At each meal a quarrel, with each bite a worry," says a Syro-Lebanese proverb.

Next time you see Arabs freaking out on the television; you have a better idea of where they are coming from. More to follow...