4: Men and Masculinities: International Perspectives From Psychology

This chapter explores the intersection of masculinity, health, violence, and influences on men’s behavior across various psychological dimensions and with an international perspective. The first section looks into the different theories that could influence masculinity as well as the potential limitations of these theories. The second section examines the impact of masculine norms on men’s mental and physical health, highlighting how societal pressures to conform to traditional masculinity contribute to emotional suppression, substance misuse, and higher mortality rates. The chapter argues that restrictive emotionality and stress associated with masculinity norms significantly impair men’s well-being. The third section talks about interpersonal violence, emphasizing that men who experience high levels of role stress and masculinity conflict are at greater risk of engaging in violent behavior, both within families and in broader societal conflicts. The fourth section discusses men in armed conflict, critically analyzing theories of male involvement in war. It challenges biological and psychological explanations, instead focusing on sociocultural and socialization factors, particularly how masculinity is instilled and reinforced in military settings. The final section discusses men in peace and politics, illustrating how sociocultural influences, such as the experience of colonization, shape men’s roles in advocating for peace as well as their involvement in pacifism or aggression. The chapter concludes by emphasizing that sociocultural context, rather than biological determinism, plays the major role in men’s involvement in peace or conflict.