Podcast Summary
Impact of Traditional Masculine Ideology on Health and Well-being: Traditional masculine ideology, emphasizing toughness, self-reliance, and emotional restraint, contributes to disparities in mental and physical health for men and women, including fewer close friendships, earlier death, gender-based violence, and limited opportunities for women.
Traditional masculine ideology, a set of social norms defining how boys and men should think, feel, and behave, continues to have a significant impact on both men's and women's lives. This ideology, which emphasizes toughness, self-reliance, and emotional restraint, has been linked to disparities in mental and physical health. Men are less likely to seek help for mental health issues, have fewer close friendships, and die on average 5 years earlier than women. They also commit the majority of homicides and are more likely to die by suicide. Traditional masculinity ideology also affects women, contributing to gender-based violence and limiting their opportunities. Despite progress in discussing evolving gender roles, this ideology remains deeply ingrained in our culture. However, research suggests that younger men may be less tied to traditional masculine ideas than their fathers. Psychologists have identified effective ways to reach out to men, such as challenging toxic masculinity and promoting healthy expressions of masculinity. It's crucial to continue the conversation and work towards changing these harmful norms.
The Role of Traditional Masculinity in Violence Among Men: Men who score very high on measures of masculinity and those who feel ashamed for not conforming to masculine norms are linked to hostility, aggression, and violence.
Traditional masculinity ideology, which includes self-reliance through mechanical skills, toughness, dominance, and a great importance on physical sex, plays a significant role in violent behavior among men. Research indicates that men are responsible for the majority of violence, but not all men are violent. Based on decades of studies, two groups of men have been identified as being linked to hostility, aggression, and violence: those who score very high on measures of masculinity and those who feel ashamed for violating masculine norms. The former group, described as hypermasculine, is believed to account for the linkages with violence, although this finding is not yet conclusive. The latter group, who experience shame for not conforming to masculine norms, may also contribute to violent behavior due to feelings of inadequacy and a desire to prove their masculinity. It's important to note that most men do not endorse traditional masculine norms to a high degree, but the skewed distribution of masculinity scores means that a small upper tail of hypermasculine men may be disproportionately responsible for violent behavior.
Men's feelings of shame and discrepancy strain due to not meeting societal masculine norms: Discovering others share similar experiences can help relieve men's feelings of shame and prevent violent behavior due to threatened masculinity or precarious manhood.
Many men experience shame and discrepancy strain when they feel they don't meet societal masculine norms. This was discovered in studies where men were asked to write down their deepest, shameful secrets, and a significant number revealed violations of masculine norms. These men often felt isolated and thought they were the only ones experiencing these feelings. However, when they learned that others shared similar experiences, they felt relief. This discrepancy strain can lead to violent behavior as men try to demonstrate their masculinity. This phenomenon, known as threatened masculinity or precarious manhood, is a common theme in various social science fields. A database of school shooters even reveals 18 cases where masculinity was a factor. It's essential to understand and address this issue to prevent harmful consequences.
Threatened masculinity and gun violence: Eighteen school shooters and murder-suicides showed signs of threatened masculinity. Encouraging emotional expression and resilience can help prevent some instances of gun violence.
Threatened masculinity may be a significant factor in understanding and preventing gun violence. Eighteen school shooters, as well as perpetrators of murder-suicides, have shown signs of feeling their masculinity was under threat. This connection is seen in experimental and survey research, as well as anecdotal evidence. To address this issue, it's crucial to challenge the notion that masculinity is obligatory for boys. Instead, families and schools should encourage emotional expression and resilience, preparing boys for potential negative reactions from their peers. By fostering a more inclusive and emotionally expressive environment for boys, we may be able to prevent some instances of gun violence.
Changes in societal norms towards masculinity and fatherhood: Older generations hold traditional masculine ideologies, while millennials normalize human variation and recognize caregiving importance in fatherhood. The essential father hypothesis, which suggested fathers don't engage in care, has been debunked.
Societal norms surrounding masculinity have evolved over the decades, particularly in regards to attitudes towards sexual minorities and fathering roles. According to research, older generations continue to hold traditional masculine ideologies, while millennials have moved towards normalizing human variation and recognizing the importance of caregiving in fatherhood. The disappearance of the norm of disdain for sexual minorities and the shift towards more involved fathering are significant changes that have occurred over generations. The essential father hypothesis, which once suggested that fathers do not engage in care, has been largely debunked, and modern fathering is now seen as just parenting, regardless of gender. The American Psychological Association (APA) has even issued guidelines for the psychological treatment of men and boys, reflecting these changing attitudes.
APA Guidelines for Engaging Men in Mental Health Treatment: The APA created guidelines to help mental health professionals engage men in treatment, addressing societal norms that discourage vulnerability and emotional expression, and the resulting emotional disconnect in boys and men.
The American Psychological Association (APA) created guidelines for mental health practice specifically for boys and men due to the underutilization of mental health services by men. Men's reluctance to seek help is linked to masculine norms that discourage vulnerability and emotional expression. This socialization begins early, with boys being less emotionally expressive than girls by the age of one, but then losing their emotional expressiveness between the ages of four and six due to peer pressure and enforcement of masculine codes. This results in many men growing up to be mildly alexithymic, or having difficulty identifying and describing their emotions. The APA's guidelines aim to address this issue and provide evidence-based practices for engaging men in mental health treatment.
Helping alexithymic patients identify emotions during psychotherapy: Men's reluctance to follow CDC guidelines during COVID-19 is influenced by masculinity and conspiratorial attitudes, making it crucial to address societal expectations of masculinity to encourage men to seek mental health help.
During psychotherapy, helping alexithymic patients identify and express their emotions is crucial. Research on men's health during the COVID-19 pandemic reveals that men have poorer health habits than women and are more likely to engage in risky behaviors, which contributes to their higher morbidity and mortality. Masculinity and conspiratorial attitudes about the pandemic have been identified as factors influencing men's reluctance to follow CDC guidelines. The recent trend of athletes opening up about their mental health struggles could potentially make some men more willing to seek help. However, this issue has been ongoing for decades, and societal expectations of masculinity have long discouraged men from showing vulnerability.
Impact of athletes sharing mental health struggles: Athletes sharing mental health struggles can inspire men to seek help, challenge societal norms, and live more authentic lives. Men can find therapists through the National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology and confront shame associated with emotional vulnerability.
The openness and vulnerability displayed by athletes in discussing their mental health struggles can have a positive impact on men, encouraging them to seek help and challenge societal norms around masculinity. The National Register of Health Service Providers in Psychology can assist men in finding a therapist, and it's crucial for individuals to confront and reject the shame associated with emotional vulnerability. By opening up to loved ones and seeking professional help, men can learn to express emotions freely and live more authentic lives. Thank you, Dr. LeVitt, for your important work and contribution to this conversation. For more information, visit speakingofpsychology.org or your favorite podcast platform. If you have ideas for future episodes, email speakingofpsychology@apa.org. Speaking of Psychology is produced by Lee Winerman, and our sound editor is Chris Kundaian.
