Psychosocial Impact of Polygamy in the Middle East

Alean Al-Krenawi (PhD) is a Professor and Dean of the School of Social Work at Memorial University of Newfoundland, currently on leave from the Spitzer Department of Social Work at Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel. Dr. Al-Krenawi's research interests include multicultural mental-health and social work with indigenous populations and polygamy. He conducts studies in Israel, Canada, Palestine and other Arab countries. He has completed 2 books; one on Ethno-psychiatry and another on helping professionals with indigenous people. He also co-edited a book on Multicultural Social Work in Canada called Working with Diverse Ethno-Racial Communities, published by Oxford University Press. Furthermore, Professor Al-Krenawi has authored numerous book chapters and academic peer reviewed articles. Recently published works appear/are about to appear in American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, British Journal of Psychiatry, British Journal of Social Work, Child Abuse and Neglect, Community Mental Health Journal, Comparative Family Studies, Current Opinion in Psychiatry, Family Process, Health and Social Work, Social Science and Medicine, Social Psychology, and Social Psychiatry.

• Preface.- Polygamy Today.- Context and change: the structure of Arab society.- Polygamy, Islam, and marital justice.- The call for different perspectives: Methodology.- Discussion and Implications.- A proposed model for treatment of polygamous families.- Dealing with polygamous families and changing the rules.