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Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction
PERSPECTIVES IN MALE PSYCHOLOGY Discover a balanced perspective on men's psychology in this accessible new resource
Male psychology is a new field within the discipline of psychology, which focuses on men and boys. Male psychology moves us towards a more scientific and balanced understanding of the psychology of men and of boys, drawing on a range of perspectives, and away from an overreliance on social constructionism and preoccupations with notions such as patriarchy and privilege, too often seen in the narrative about men.
In Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction, two of the most prominent authors in this new field, Louise Liddon and John Barry, introduce and deliver an insightful exploration of some of today's most hotly contested issues regarding men and masculinity.
This book puts forward a balanced perspective that has been missing from academic and media narratives around topics such as child development, education, sport and exercise, the workplace, crime, the military, health and wellbeing, mental health, therapy, masculinity, and sex differences, and considers the role that evolution, biology, and culture play in shaping male behavior.
This book will also help readers to better understand some key issues such as:
Why there are controversies around sex differences research How bias in research has led to a distorted view of the psychology of men and boys The ways in which the mental health and other needs of men and boys are routinely overlooked In turn this helps us ask some important questions such as:
If there are more similarities than differences between men and women, does that mean the differences are unimportant? How can we un-distort our understanding of men and masculinity? What are the best ways of identifying and meeting the psychological needs of men and boys? Readers, whether students or lecturers, will also benefit from the inclusion of our companion Wiley website containing additional resources to support the development of knowledge and understanding of male psychology.
Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, medicine, and sociology, as well as established professionals in these and related fields, Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction will also earn a place in the libraries of anyone interested in the psychology of sex and gender differences in various aspects of mental health and human behaviour.
Male psychology is a new field within the discipline of psychology, which focuses on men and boys. Male psychology moves us towards a more scientific and balanced understanding of the psychology of men and of boys, drawing on a range of perspectives, and away from an overreliance on social constructionism and preoccupations with notions such as patriarchy and privilege, too often seen in the narrative about men.
In Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction, two of the most prominent authors in this new field, Louise Liddon and John Barry, introduce and deliver an insightful exploration of some of today's most hotly contested issues regarding men and masculinity.
This book puts forward a balanced perspective that has been missing from academic and media narratives around topics such as child development, education, sport and exercise, the workplace, crime, the military, health and wellbeing, mental health, therapy, masculinity, and sex differences, and considers the role that evolution, biology, and culture play in shaping male behavior.
This book will also help readers to better understand some key issues such as:
Why there are controversies around sex differences research How bias in research has led to a distorted view of the psychology of men and boys The ways in which the mental health and other needs of men and boys are routinely overlooked In turn this helps us ask some important questions such as:
If there are more similarities than differences between men and women, does that mean the differences are unimportant? How can we un-distort our understanding of men and masculinity? What are the best ways of identifying and meeting the psychological needs of men and boys? Readers, whether students or lecturers, will also benefit from the inclusion of our companion Wiley website containing additional resources to support the development of knowledge and understanding of male psychology.
Perfect for undergraduate and graduate students in psychology, medicine, and sociology, as well as established professionals in these and related fields, Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction will also earn a place in the libraries of anyone interested in the psychology of sex and gender differences in various aspects of mental health and human behaviour.
- GenresPsychology
400 pages, Paperback
Published April 26, 2021
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
July 28, 2023
I read this after hearing John Barry as a guest on the Art of Manliness podcast. It is described as the first Text Book looking at Men as a unique population group for Psychological Research. It is a scholarly work which is strong on referencing the knowledge it produces, which makes it dry at times and it does not over reach with conclusions that cannot be supported by quality research.
It differentiates itself from ‘Gender Studies’ and points out the manner in which this field has become problematic in its claims to be based of scientific research and bias in an unhelpful way it its conclusions about men. It grounds itself in humanistic, evolutionary, biological, social, and other forms of psychological thought as it pertains to men as a population group. It aims to support Psychological concepts that improve the mental health of men by giving the reader knowledge of best practice when working with men. It is pro masculinity and rejects concepts such as ‘toxic masculinity’, giving reasoned arguments why they are not helpful to the mental health of men.
Liddon and Barry warn of the increasing emotional and behavioural difficulties being experienced by boys in our society, and are concerned with the lack of empathy for boys amongst gender academics. These academics ‘blame the victim’ in a way that would not be acceptable for girls and engage in moral panics about issues like video games, rather than seek to investigate potential roots in these pathologies such a ‘Dad Deprivation’.
Liddon and Barry show that whilst boys and men are consistently falling behind in education measures, little attention is being paid to this and is an example of a ‘gamma bias’. Girls and women are now over taking boys and men in topics where formerly excelled. Boys are being discouraged from being competitive. They identify the problem of academic under achievement by boys and the harm it will cause women, especially when they enter the mating market. They also point out that society seems to over value education gained in a university, whilst under valuing vocations and trades people. “the consequences of underachievement have potentially damaging consequences for everyone” (p 125).
Sport, exercise, work and the roles these have in the mental health of men are discussed. The impact of male criminality where men are over represented is investigated and suggestions are made to improve this to promote greater understanding and change. Men’s role in the military and it’s impacts on the psychology of men, both positive and negative, are examined. The roles of protector and leader as positive masculine traits are identified, along with barriers for military men seeking help. The impact of men’s physical health issues (such as male infertility; testosterone; erectile dysfunction; prostate cancer) on men’s mental health, along with strategies for health improvement and barriers for men are explored. Suicide is the final mental health issue most specific to men to be analysed with the barriers to accessing psychotherapy identified, and the problems and barriers created by using ‘female typical’ approaches, such as talking about feelings over problem solving.
Quotes I found worth of discussion:
“It is ironic that a study of 566,827 students aged 15 years old (49.8% girls) across 73 countries found the mental health was worse for girls in those countries with the highest level of gender equality (p 125)”. Correlation is not causation, but if accepted the women in the most equitable countries are not experiencing improved mental health. I note that the loudest voices complaining about women’s safety, are coming from the safest places, Universities. Our Universities are safe places for women, when compared to almost any other institution. Something strange is going on. Women who accept traditional roles within a religious community, report some of the best mental health. Investigating the positive aspects of being in a traditional religious community has been ignored by academia. Maybe the ancestors knew what they were doing when they codified these societal roles.
Liddon and Barry quote Solal and Snellmen (2019) “A 14-year longitudinal assessment of 1889 US public firms found ‘firms that increase board diversity suffer a decrease in market value and that this effect is amplified for firms that have received higher ratings [on KLD STATS] for their diversity practices across the organisation… every increase in the number of female directors may lead to a 2.3% loss of market value, which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollar” – “The authors explained that ‘a gender-diverse board is interpreted [by investors] as revealing a preference for diversity and a weaker commitment to shareholder value’” (p 154). As an investor I am most interested in finding the best returns for my investment. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy of a company plays no part in my decision to invest. I would be concerned if DEI policies were affecting my investments bottom line as is claimed. I want the best people to do the job, measured by the amount of profit they make. I am concerned with the ‘may’ in the ‘lead to a 2.3% loss in market value’, it may not as well, so this seems a bullshit claim. I am careful of any organisation the spruiks it’s DEI policies as a virtue signal.
“The adage goes that men bond by insulting each other but they don’t really mean it, whereas women bond by complimenting each other but they don’t really mean it” (p 267). This rang true for me. Kerri and I have disagreements about how I talk to our son’s and their friends. The shit giving, piss taking is natural for me, but concerning for her. I have struggled in group friendships with women. It turns out I don’t know the difference between a compliment and a come on so I have learned to say nothing, ever, about how a woman looks. Much safer. There is a cartoon with a good looking man and an ugly man saying to the same woman “lookin good Susan”. Susan responds to the good looking man “how sweet” and by calling human resources about the ugly man. There in lies the conundrum for men. A man had to assess how attractive he is to a women, before he make a comment to her, at the cost of his career and reputation. Is it any wonder men like me, just don’t bother giving complements to women, even if we don’t mean it.
“to say that evidence that domestic violence against women is evidence that misogyny is an aspect of masculinity is very muddled thinking, especially as the rates of domestic violence by women against men are relatively high (28.7% of men are victims of DV by women compared to 32.3% of women who are victims of DV by men), and higher still for women against women (40.4% of lesbians are victims of female partners); (Brown & Hermain, 2015) (p 284). I do not doubt the statistics quoted. I believe women are as prone to anger and violence as men are. There is a difference in the consequences of men’s violence and women’s violence when weapons are not used because of the disparity in physical strength. If a women hits a man, people snigger and expect the man to cope with it. If a man hits a women there is a risk a murder occurs, and society is concerned. I hold this reflexive attitude myself. In this regard, men and women are not equal and held to different standards. Men need to learn to channel and control their anger, more so than women due to the difference in consequences of losing control of their emotions. Women need to respect men’s physical strength, and hold in higher esteem those men who can control or channel their emotions. This is a complex issue that needs constant work and discussion in our society. The highest rates of violence in domestic relationships, are those between two women. That alone indicates Domestic Violence is not a solely a men’s issue.
On the whole this is a needed book and hopefully the beginning of men’s psychology being studied as a population group. If we are being real about equity for every Women’s Studies course we need equal resources for Men’s Studies. Support for men and boys is sadly lacking in our society. Men are and always have been the disposable sex. Warren Farrell put it that we have female sex objects and male success objects, both objectified. It was in Farrell’s ‘The Myth of Male Power’ that I first became aware that men are struggling in contemporary society, and this work reinforces this. However, men are ignored as a population group by Academia, Governments, and Societies. I learned and was shown the repeated forms of bias prevalent in contemporary ‘Gender Studies’ academia. It does have a clear agenda of promoting the needs of men is receiving good mental health care.
It differentiates itself from ‘Gender Studies’ and points out the manner in which this field has become problematic in its claims to be based of scientific research and bias in an unhelpful way it its conclusions about men. It grounds itself in humanistic, evolutionary, biological, social, and other forms of psychological thought as it pertains to men as a population group. It aims to support Psychological concepts that improve the mental health of men by giving the reader knowledge of best practice when working with men. It is pro masculinity and rejects concepts such as ‘toxic masculinity’, giving reasoned arguments why they are not helpful to the mental health of men.
Liddon and Barry warn of the increasing emotional and behavioural difficulties being experienced by boys in our society, and are concerned with the lack of empathy for boys amongst gender academics. These academics ‘blame the victim’ in a way that would not be acceptable for girls and engage in moral panics about issues like video games, rather than seek to investigate potential roots in these pathologies such a ‘Dad Deprivation’.
Liddon and Barry show that whilst boys and men are consistently falling behind in education measures, little attention is being paid to this and is an example of a ‘gamma bias’. Girls and women are now over taking boys and men in topics where formerly excelled. Boys are being discouraged from being competitive. They identify the problem of academic under achievement by boys and the harm it will cause women, especially when they enter the mating market. They also point out that society seems to over value education gained in a university, whilst under valuing vocations and trades people. “the consequences of underachievement have potentially damaging consequences for everyone” (p 125).
Sport, exercise, work and the roles these have in the mental health of men are discussed. The impact of male criminality where men are over represented is investigated and suggestions are made to improve this to promote greater understanding and change. Men’s role in the military and it’s impacts on the psychology of men, both positive and negative, are examined. The roles of protector and leader as positive masculine traits are identified, along with barriers for military men seeking help. The impact of men’s physical health issues (such as male infertility; testosterone; erectile dysfunction; prostate cancer) on men’s mental health, along with strategies for health improvement and barriers for men are explored. Suicide is the final mental health issue most specific to men to be analysed with the barriers to accessing psychotherapy identified, and the problems and barriers created by using ‘female typical’ approaches, such as talking about feelings over problem solving.
Quotes I found worth of discussion:
“It is ironic that a study of 566,827 students aged 15 years old (49.8% girls) across 73 countries found the mental health was worse for girls in those countries with the highest level of gender equality (p 125)”. Correlation is not causation, but if accepted the women in the most equitable countries are not experiencing improved mental health. I note that the loudest voices complaining about women’s safety, are coming from the safest places, Universities. Our Universities are safe places for women, when compared to almost any other institution. Something strange is going on. Women who accept traditional roles within a religious community, report some of the best mental health. Investigating the positive aspects of being in a traditional religious community has been ignored by academia. Maybe the ancestors knew what they were doing when they codified these societal roles.
Liddon and Barry quote Solal and Snellmen (2019) “A 14-year longitudinal assessment of 1889 US public firms found ‘firms that increase board diversity suffer a decrease in market value and that this effect is amplified for firms that have received higher ratings [on KLD STATS] for their diversity practices across the organisation… every increase in the number of female directors may lead to a 2.3% loss of market value, which could amount to hundreds of millions of dollar” – “The authors explained that ‘a gender-diverse board is interpreted [by investors] as revealing a preference for diversity and a weaker commitment to shareholder value’” (p 154). As an investor I am most interested in finding the best returns for my investment. The Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policy of a company plays no part in my decision to invest. I would be concerned if DEI policies were affecting my investments bottom line as is claimed. I want the best people to do the job, measured by the amount of profit they make. I am concerned with the ‘may’ in the ‘lead to a 2.3% loss in market value’, it may not as well, so this seems a bullshit claim. I am careful of any organisation the spruiks it’s DEI policies as a virtue signal.
“The adage goes that men bond by insulting each other but they don’t really mean it, whereas women bond by complimenting each other but they don’t really mean it” (p 267). This rang true for me. Kerri and I have disagreements about how I talk to our son’s and their friends. The shit giving, piss taking is natural for me, but concerning for her. I have struggled in group friendships with women. It turns out I don’t know the difference between a compliment and a come on so I have learned to say nothing, ever, about how a woman looks. Much safer. There is a cartoon with a good looking man and an ugly man saying to the same woman “lookin good Susan”. Susan responds to the good looking man “how sweet” and by calling human resources about the ugly man. There in lies the conundrum for men. A man had to assess how attractive he is to a women, before he make a comment to her, at the cost of his career and reputation. Is it any wonder men like me, just don’t bother giving complements to women, even if we don’t mean it.
“to say that evidence that domestic violence against women is evidence that misogyny is an aspect of masculinity is very muddled thinking, especially as the rates of domestic violence by women against men are relatively high (28.7% of men are victims of DV by women compared to 32.3% of women who are victims of DV by men), and higher still for women against women (40.4% of lesbians are victims of female partners); (Brown & Hermain, 2015) (p 284). I do not doubt the statistics quoted. I believe women are as prone to anger and violence as men are. There is a difference in the consequences of men’s violence and women’s violence when weapons are not used because of the disparity in physical strength. If a women hits a man, people snigger and expect the man to cope with it. If a man hits a women there is a risk a murder occurs, and society is concerned. I hold this reflexive attitude myself. In this regard, men and women are not equal and held to different standards. Men need to learn to channel and control their anger, more so than women due to the difference in consequences of losing control of their emotions. Women need to respect men’s physical strength, and hold in higher esteem those men who can control or channel their emotions. This is a complex issue that needs constant work and discussion in our society. The highest rates of violence in domestic relationships, are those between two women. That alone indicates Domestic Violence is not a solely a men’s issue.
On the whole this is a needed book and hopefully the beginning of men’s psychology being studied as a population group. If we are being real about equity for every Women’s Studies course we need equal resources for Men’s Studies. Support for men and boys is sadly lacking in our society. Men are and always have been the disposable sex. Warren Farrell put it that we have female sex objects and male success objects, both objectified. It was in Farrell’s ‘The Myth of Male Power’ that I first became aware that men are struggling in contemporary society, and this work reinforces this. However, men are ignored as a population group by Academia, Governments, and Societies. I learned and was shown the repeated forms of bias prevalent in contemporary ‘Gender Studies’ academia. It does have a clear agenda of promoting the needs of men is receiving good mental health care.
December 17, 2022
An easily digestible introduction to the current state of psychological research in men's issues.
Liddon and Barry have done a great job putting together this work. The recommendations they make when working to address men's mental health difficulties are simple and precise.
Highly recommended for any mental health practitioner or researcher looking to better understand how to work with male clients and participants.
Liddon and Barry have done a great job putting together this work. The recommendations they make when working to address men's mental health difficulties are simple and precise.
Highly recommended for any mental health practitioner or researcher looking to better understand how to work with male clients and participants.
January 25, 2024
Great introduction towards the understanding and development of psychology science applied to the male experience and psychology.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews