Incorporating a gender role strain perspective in assessing and treating men's cognitive distortions

Authors
Citation
Jr. Mahalik, Incorporating a gender role strain perspective in assessing and treating men's cognitive distortions, PROF PSYCH, 30(4), 1999, pp. 333-340
Citations number
40
Categorie Soggetti
Psycology
Journal title
PROFESSIONAL PSYCHOLOGY-RESEARCH AND PRACTICE
ISSN journal
07357028 → ACNP
Volume
30
Issue
4
Year of publication
1999
Pages
333 - 340
Database
ISI
SICI code
0735-7028(199908)30:4<333:IAGRSP>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Psychologists will be better prepared to intervene effectively with male cl ients ii they can assess how their male clients' experiences as men in soci ety have contributed to their presenting problems. In this article, the aut hor reviews how masculine gender role strain contributes to men's cognitive distortions and leads to, for example, aggressiveness, an overemphasis on achievement, and relational and emotional disconnection. Eight areas of sal ient gender role messages for men are examined to facilitate clinicians' as sessments of men's gender related cognitive distortions. In the final secti on. of the article, issues salient to treating men who endorse these gender related cognitive distortions are discussed. By focusing on the influence of men's gender role socialization on presenting problems, it is hoped that clinicians may be empathic to the social context that contributes to men's cognitive distortions and clinicians can reduce the effects of gender role strain in male clients.