Perspectives in Male Psychology: An Introduction (BPS Textbooks in Psychology)

PERSPECTIVES IN MALE PSYCHOLOGY 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. I think this review puts it better than I can. It's by Prof Gijsbert Stoet, Department of Psychology, University of Essex, UK: "This is a much-needed introduction book for anyone interested in what makes men think and behave the way they do. It is a critically important and timely contribution to the wider literature on gender-related topics. The authors covers a wide range of relevant topics about boys and men, including child development, education, mental health and wellbeing, and more. The book helps students and specialists alike to get an overview of the most important topics in the field of male psychology. The authors have done an especially good job in making the text easy and enjoyable to read. The book is filled with fascinating and carefully referenced facts, spotlight boxes, and discussion points. What is particularly striking about this book is how the authors describe controversial issues with a nuanced tone and with a deep understanding of different viewpoints on approaches to studying and discussing masculinity. This makes the book particularly useful for psychology and social-sciences courses on male psychology and masculinit in the English-speaking world. This is an essential read for both students and specialists alike." Other reviews are here https://www.wiley.com/en-gb/Perspectives+in+Male+Psychology%3A+An+Introduction-p-9781119685357 "A lot has been happening in the world of male psychology in recent times and we are really pleased that you want to find out more and are joining us in exploring the psychology of men and boys from a fresh perspective. This book came into being as the result of conversations with psychologists at conferences and public lectures. Although I (JB) initially saw male psychology as primarily a mental health topic, it soon became apparent that the core issues in male psychology were themes that recurred all areas of psychology. For example, I was presenting research on the specific needs of men in therapy, and one of the findings was that men tended to want to just fix their problems, whereas women wanted to explore their feelings about the problem. A neurologist specialising in traumatic brain injury said this resonated exactly with what she saw in the sex difference in the recovery of her clients - all patients wanted to get their life back on track, but the female clients were more inclined to talk about their feelings during the process, whereas the men just wanted to get themselves fixed"-- Provided by publisher