Perspectives in Male Psychology : An Introduction

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.

LOUISE LIDDON is a researcher and author in the field of male psychology. In addition to Perspectives in Male Psychology, her work includes a chapter in the seminal and successful Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health ‘What are the factors that make a male-friendly therapy?’ and a number of research papers such as ‘Gender differences in preferences for psychological treatment, coping strategies, and triggers to help-seeking’, published in the British Journal of Clinical Psychology and one of this journal’s top 20 downloads since the paper was published in 2017. Louise, along with John Barry, is co-founder of The Centre for Male Psychology.

JOHN BARRY, PhD, is a Chartered Psychologist and Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS), Honorary Lecturer in psychology at University College London, clinical hypnotherapist, and author of around 70 peer-reviewed publications in psychology and health. His PhD with City University, London, was on the psychological aspects of polycystic ovary syndrome (2011). John co-founded the Men’s Mental Health Research Team (2011), initiated the Male Psychology Network (2014), co-founded the Male Psychology Section of the BPS (2018), has been lead organiser of the Male Psychology Conference (2014-present) and co-editor of the Palgrave Handbook of Male Psychology and Mental Health (2019).