Guidance for Students wanting to learn about male psychology at their institution

Summary

Throughout psychology education in the UK and the rest of the world, from the earliest introductions in high school onwards, there tends to be a lack of recognition of sex differences in psychological phenomena, and a near complete lack of recognition that some issues are more relevant for men than women. [1] This includes some ‘elephants in the room’, such as the fact that far fewer boys than girls study psychology (e.g. 20% or less of undergraduates), and that in general boys have been falling behind girls in educational attainment since the 1980s. [2]

The fact that issues related to men and boys are so much overlooked is an interesting psychological phenomenon in it’s own right, and is sometimes referred to as gamma bias. [2]

There is nothing about male psychology on my psychology course. Am I missing something?

At the time of writing, there is only one Male Psychology module in the world. This is the BSc Psychology module on male psychology at the University of Sunderland, UK. Similar modules at other universities are likely to follow in due course.

Male psychology spans a range of topics and disciplines, so opportunities to discuss a balanced view of men and masculinity are likely to arise in many courses. Male psychology is not just about the study of males but often about comparing the needs / characteristics etc of men and women.

Male Psychology should not be confused with gender studies, women’s studies, or men’s studies, all of which tend to take the view that men’s psychology is a product solely of the environmental influences e.g. social norms, advertising etc. These various types of studies also tend to take a negative view of masculinity, and propose that in modern societies patriarchy has a significant influence on men’s behaviour .

How can I learn about male psychology on my psychology course?

It is perfectly reasonable – and could benefit other students – if you politely ask your lecturer or tutor about male psychology. There are many opportunities to do so on a psychology course, for example:

• There are lots of behaviours and traits that show sex differences, and a discussion of any of these topics is an opportunity to ask about why a sex difference exists e.g. is it nature, nurture, or a bit of both?[1] Examples of psychological phenomena that show sex differences include

  -   Visuospatial ability: men tend to be better at three-dimensional mental rotation. (Note that this applies to mental rotation only, not visual ability in general).

  -   Reading: girls tend to be better at this than boys

  -   Mathematical reasoning: boys tend to do better at this than girls. (Note that this applies to mathematical reasoning, not mathematical ability in general).

  -   Depression: women suffer major depression twice as much as men do

  -   Suicide: 75% of suicides are male

  -   Substance abuse: this problem is twice as common in men than women

  -   Sports: men tend to be more interested in team sports than women are.

• Remember that some people mistakenly think that focusing on sex differences leads to sexism, so be polite and respectful, especially when talking to tutors or students who know little about the topic, or have strongly ideological views on these topics.

Where can I find more information on male psychology?

• The ideal book for newcomers to male psychology is Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction [1] which includes some online resources for teachers. The Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health [2] is another excellent resource, especially for those interested in mental health and therapy.

Books, academic papers, trainings and workshops are available which provide lots of peer-reviewed information on male psychology.

© The Centre For Male Psychology

Disclaimer: our guidance documents provide basic information based on our expertise. Our guidance documents are not rules, and they may be updated in the light of new information and research evidence. We cannot accept responsibility for situations or outcomes that result from other people’s interpretation of this guidance.

References

[1] Liddon, L., & Barry, J. A. (2021). Perspectives in male psychology: An introduction. Hoboken: Wiley. ISBN: 978-1-119-68535-7

[2] Barry JA, Kingerlee R, SeThe Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Healthager MJ and Sullivan L (Eds.) (2019). The Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health. London: Palgrave Macmillan IBSN 978-3-030-04384-1   DOI 10.1007/978-3-030-04384-1