Ronald F. Levant – författare

Men are commonly expected to act "masculine" (e.g., self-sufficient, stoic, strong, dependable, brave, tough, and hard-working) while avoiding stereotypically "feminine" traits (e.g., emotional expressivity, empathy, and nurturance). Few, however, realize that these qualities--when taken to the extreme--can cause emotional constriction, substance abuse, depression, aggression, and violence in many men. Further, even though most men are not violent, decades of research has shown that masculinity is distinctly related to sexual and gun violence and men's poorer health. Considering how girls and women have benefitted from decades of conversations on navigation of their gender in a changing world, similar processes are urgently needed for boys and men. The Tough Standard connects the dots between masculinity and the present moment in American culture (defined by high-profile movements such as Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter), synthesizes over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities, and proposes solutions to corresponding social problems.

Men are commonly expected to act "masculine" (e.g., self-sufficient, stoic, strong, dependable, brave, tough, and hard-working) while avoiding stereotypically "feminine" traits (e.g., emotional expressivity, empathy, and nurturance). Few, however, realize that these qualities--when taken to the extreme--can cause emotional constriction, substance abuse, depression, aggression, and violence in many men. Further, even though most men are not violent, decades of research has shown that masculinity is distinctly related to sexual and gun violence and men''s poorer health. Considering how girls and women have benefitted from decades of conversations on navigation of their gender in a changing world, similar processes are urgently needed for boys and men. The Tough Standard connects the dots between masculinity and the present moment in American culture (defined by high-profile movements such as Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter), synthesizes over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities, and proposes solutions to corresponding social problems.

Men are commonly expected to act "masculine" (e.g., self-sufficient, stoic, strong, dependable, brave, tough, and hard-working) while avoiding stereotypically "feminine" traits (e.g., emotional expressivity, empathy, and nurturance). Few, however, realize that these qualities--when taken to the extreme--can cause emotional constriction, substance abuse, depression, aggression, and violence in many men. Further, even though most men are not violent, decades of research has shown that masculinity is distinctly related to sexual and gun violence and men''s poorer health. Considering how girls and women have benefitted from decades of conversations on navigation of their gender in a changing world, similar processes are urgently needed for boys and men. The Tough Standard connects the dots between masculinity and the present moment in American culture (defined by high-profile movements such as Me Too, March for Our Lives, and Black Lives Matter), synthesizes over four decades of research in the psychology of men and masculinities, and proposes solutions to corresponding social problems.

. . . an important contribution to the current literature on a person-centered approach. It demonstrates the increasingly broad and dynamic application of this perspective to a variety of fields. The Family PscyhologistFeaturing 21 papers by important contributors from academia and clinical practice, this volume examines the major developments in the client-centered approach to therapy which took place in the U.S. and Europe during the 1970's and early 1980's.

This volume is an important contribution to the current literature on a person-centered approach. It demonstrates the increasingly broad and dynamic application of this perspective to a variety of fields. Of particular interest to family psychologists are the chapters on family relationships, systems theories and marital and family therapy. This book is a valuable addition to the library of seasoned family psychologists as well as beginning graduate students in marriage and family therapy programs. The Family Psychologist

"From childhood onward, men appear to be at risk. Infant males aremore likely to undergo complications during labor and delivery andto have more birth defects. Boys often manifest behavioraldifficulties and learning disabilities in elementary school. Byeighth grade, boys are only half as likely as girls to aspire to bea professional or career person; boys are nine times more likely tosuffer from hyperactivity and more than twice as likely to besuspended from school. Men are less likely to attend college and/orgraduate school than women. Compared to young women, young men arefour times more likely to be victims of homicide and five timesmore likely to kill themselves. "Men suffer under a code of masculinity that requires them to be:aggressive, dominant, achievement oriented, competitive, rigidlyself-sufficient, adventure seeking, willing to take risks,emotionally restricted, and constituted to avoid all thingsperceived as 'feminine.' Such a code is bound to take a toll onmen's longevity. The average life expectancy for males in theUnited States is seven years shorter than that for women.Traditional male role traits inhibit men from seeking medical helpin the early stages of disease and from being sufficiently attunedto their own internal processes to detect early warnings ofillness." --from the Introduction. Slowly, the truth emerges. In a society in which men are expectedto be strong, independent, aggressive, and impervious to emotionalstress, boys are nine times more likely than girls to suffer fromhyperactivity, young men are five times more likely to commitsuicide than young women, and men have far higher rates ofsubstance abuse and antisocial personality disorder than women.Clearly, many men are in need of psychological treatment andpsychotherapy. Ironically, however, the very qualities that areresponsible for many of their emotional and behavioral difficultiesmake it much more difficult for men to admit they have problems,seek professional help, or have faith in the efficacy oftreatment. In New Psychotherapy for Men, leading figures in the field of men'spsychology explore the psychological sources of men's emotionaldifficulties and offer specific techniques to help therapistsovercome men's resistance to therapy. With the help of full-lengthcase studies, they trace the sources of emotional and psychologicaldisturbances in men and present new models for assessing andtreating men's unique emotional difficulties. This book illuminatesthe unhealthy aspects of masculinity through the lens of genderrole strain, creating state-of-the-art, gender-specific treatmentsfor men. Major issues addressed in New Psychotherapy for Men include:* Reluctant men in couples therapy* Group therapy for traditional men* Gender role strain in the family system* Recognizing and treating depression in men* Men's shame and trauma in therapy* Gender role strain as a factor in male impotence* Treating male violence* Helping men find a voice for their feelings* Adapting psychodynamic therapy for men. This book also takes a multicultural perspective, discussing thespecial problems of anger and stress experienced by AfricanAmerican men, psychotherapy for gay men, and the difficulties thatcan arise when a female therapist treats a male patient. Groundbreaking, broad in scope, and infused with countlesspractical suggestions, New Psychotherapy for Men is anextraordinarily helpful guide for all mental health professionalswho deal with men. It is also an excellent graduate-level text,offering today's students a rich, fully developed body of newknowledge with which to begin their careers.

What if your new client, a man in his early 40s, cannot answer basic questions in your initial assessment interview? You were aware that many men do not like to talk about their feelings, but this client seems kind of frozen. You think he might be alexithymic, but you do not know how to assess for that, or even more importantly, how to treat it. Assessing and Treating Emotionally Inexpressive Men has answers. Chapters explain why some men are emotionally inexpressive because of their childhood socialization, and the book provides both scales for assessing alexithymia in men and treatment manuals for helping these men became more emotionally self-aware in individual and group therapy. The book also offers case studies that explains how to integrate the authors’ approach with any model of psychotherapy. Clinicians will come away from this book with a clear sense for how to treat alexithymia in the early sessions of psychotherapy and thereby improve treatment uptake and outcomes.

What if your new client, a man in his early 40s, cannot answer basic questions in your initial assessment interview? You were aware that many men do not like to talk about their feelings, but this client seems kind of frozen. You think he might be alexithymic, but you do not know how to assess for that, or even more importantly, how to treat it. Assessing and Treating Emotionally Inexpressive Men has answers. Chapters explain why some men are emotionally inexpressive because of their childhood socialization, and the book provides both scales for assessing alexithymia in men and treatment manuals for helping these men became more emotionally self-aware in individual and group therapy. The book also offers case studies that explains how to integrate the authors’ approach with any model of psychotherapy. Clinicians will come away from this book with a clear sense for how to treat alexithymia in the early sessions of psychotherapy and thereby improve treatment uptake and outcomes.

Decades ago, the emergence of feminist psychology upended the old order by redefining sex and gender. Soon thereafter, scholars such as Ron Levant recognized the importance of doing a similar critical analysis of men. Now, years later, the psychology of men and masculinities is a thriving, growing field illuminating the impact of sex and gender on the lives of men.  This highly anticipated volume shows how far the field has advanced and what directions it is taking. It explains and evaluates major theories, research, and applications, with an emphasis on the gender role strain paradigm, which is an empirical, feminist, and social constructionist approach that is based primarily in psychology and that relies largely on quantitative research. The chapters also synthesize research on men amp rsquo s mental and physical health, including depression, help-seeking, stigma, body image, and the physical health effects of masculinity. Special attention is given to ethnic, racial, and sexual minority men. Finally, the book surveys the growing body of work on therapeutic and preventive interventions for men, as well as programs aimed at men amp rsquo s violence, substance use, and lack of self-care. With such broad and inclusive coverage, this volume will be a standard reference for researchers and practitioners in this field and an essential part of university courses on men and masculinities.