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This exploratory study examined the nature of family myths as perceived by mid-life married men. Of particular interest was inquiry into the origin of family mythology and the transmission process of myths as perceived by men. The most pervasive themes were found around "relations with father." These themes were indicated in a two-fold typology of "father is absent" and "father is present." The findings from this research present evidence of family myths originating in the family of origin experiences and evolving into contemporary mythology related to conflict management, marital relations, and career roles. Discussion of methodological issues, as well as implications for future research and clinical interventions are presented. / Ph. D.

Men's emotional expression was assessed using Deaux and Major's (1987) interactive model of gender-related behavior as a theoretical framework. This model explains gender differences in behavior as a function of proximal forces and contextual variables such as, activated gender-related schemata regarding oneself and others, and situational cues. Male college students, categorized as high and low on the Masculine Gender Role Stress (MGRS) scale (Eisler & Skidmore, 1987), interacted consecutively with a male and a female confederate. Confederates portrayed either gender-consistent (GC) or gender inconsistent (GI) cues regarding their desire for emotional expression from subjects. Verbal and nonverbal measures were rated from videotapes of the interactions. Speaking and listening roles were analyzed separately. It was hypothesized that men who appraise violations of the traditional masculine role as stressful (high MGRS) would demonstrate less emotionally expressive behavior than other men (low MGRS). Specifically, under GC cue conditions (i.e., emotional expression more appropriate to female than male confederates), high MGRS men were expected to be more expressive to female expressive to both confederates. Under GI cue conditions (i.e., emotional expression more appropriate to male than female confederates), it was hypothesized that low MGRS men would become more expressive to male than female confederates, while high MGRS men would be equally expressive to male and female confederates. Results indicated that under GC conditions, both high and low MGRS men were more expressive to female than to male confederates. As predicted, under GI conditions, this pattern was attenuated or reversed, confirming that contextual variables impact displays of emotional expression. Furthermore, anxiety expression also varied with cue conditions and MGRS level. Verbal results demonstrated support for the attenuation of expressive differences under GI conditions, but this did not vary as a function of MGRS level. Patterns of expression varied as a function of speaking and listening roles, particularly for low MGRS men. This study lends support to the Deaux and Major's hypothesis that gender-related behaviors are influenced by contextual and proximal factors. Implications for this model, as well as the MGRS construct, are discussed. / Ph. D.

Masculine gender role conflict (MGRC) occurs when externally-imposed male gender role expectations have a negative impact on and consequences for men. The purpose of this study was to examine how men in a homogeneous setting (i.e., a college campus) compare on MGRC and psychological well-being, based on their self-identified sexual orientation. Utilizing canonical correlation analysis, 96 heterosexual men and 102 gay men were compared on four factors of MGRC (conflict between work and family, restrictive emotionality, restrictive affectionate behavior between men, and success, power, and competition) and five factors of psychological well-being (anger, anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and attitudes toward seeking psychological help). Findings for the heterosexual men were highly consistent with previous studies on MGRC and psychological well-being in a college-age population. Findings for the gay men indicated they had more problems with MGRC and psychological well-being than college-age and older gay men surveyed in the one published study on gay men and MGRC. Gay men who were single also reported more problems with restrictive emotionality, anger, anxiety, and depression, and had lower self-esteem, than gay men who were in a relationship. Between group differences were few, with gay men reporting significantly less restrictive affectionate behavior between men than heterosexual men. There were no significant differences between the two groups on any of the psychological well-being variables, indicating that the gay men were no more pathological than the heterosexual men with respect to their psychological well-being. Overall, the psychological well-being of both populations was seen to suffer as a result of increased MGRC. Implications are discussed for psychological interventions with men who are bound by traditional male gender role stereotypes.

M.A. / The objective of this thesis is to examine emerging themes around masculinity from within an eclectic psychoanalytic framework. In order to achieve the objective, the historical development of psychoanalytic theories on the male gender role are briefly examined. Thereafter, the thesis examines the eclectic psychoanalytic theories of masculinity proposed by Chodorow (1989, 1995) and Hudson and Jacot (1991). An investigation into the emerging themes around masculinity generated by the theories of Chodorow (1989, 1995) and Hudson and Jacot (1991) is then undertaken. The conclusion is that the theories of Chodorow (1989, 1995) and Hudson and Jacot (1991) share an eclectic psychoanalytic approach. The most important common themes in the development of masculinity, are identified as being the relevance of the pre-Oedipal years; the link between the development of the self and the formation of gender identity; and the relationship between psychoanalysis and social theory in the development of masculinity. The role of the mother is also explored in terms of her contribution to the development of masculinity and the maintenance of a gender bias.

This purpose of this study was to validate the concept of homosexual identity formation using psychosocial personality measures and occupational congruence. Of additional interest was personality or occupational congruence differences which may exist between men who choose to enter job fields stereotyped as gay and those who do not choose those fields.

According to Alfred Adler, founder of Individual Psychology, a feeling of inferiority is in some degree common to all people. People who are unable to overcome these inferiority feelings by striving for cooperation may become discouraged. Although there are three scales to measure social interest, no scales measuring discouragement for adults was found. Additionally, Adler held basic assumptions regarding homosexuality, and the findings suggest that the assumptions should be reexamined. The purpose of this study was twofold. First, three University of North Texas candidates developed a discouragement scale for adults 18 years of age and older, known as the Discouragement Scale for Adults (DSA). Discouragement was examined relative to the five life tasks. Second, this candidate normed the instrument for the scores of gay male subjects and compared it to the scores of the other subject groups. Since the emphasis was on developing the instrument and norming it for various subject groups, no hypothesis was developed. Data was collected on three subject groups, known as the general norm subjects, the discouraged subjects, and the gay male subjects. Analyses were performed on the scores. Among the analyses, it was found that gay male subjects were slightly more discouraged than the general norm subjects, and the discouraged subjects were far greater discouraged than the other two subject groups. Initial reliability and validity was found to be high, offering support that the DSA is a reliable and valid instrument. The recommendations for further research include cultural and gender studies, predicting behavior, counseling intervention, and exploring the relationship between discouragement and stressors, such as the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

The sexual identity development process in gay men was the focus of this study. It was theorized that, as a result of negative experiences with the dominant heterosexual culture, gay men might feel mistrustful of heterosexuals in various settings. A new theoretical construct, that of heterosexual mistrust, was identified and explored. A new scale, the Heterosexual Mistrust Inventory (HMI), was created to measure this construct. Gay male subjects' stage of homosexual identity formation (HIF) was also determined. Results indicated that heterosexual mistrust existed to a significantly stronger degree among gay men than among heterosexual men. Heterosexual mistrust was strongly related to stage of HIF. The various settings in which heterosexual mistrust was found to occur were discussed. Implications for current knowledge about HIF and about cultural belief systems unique to gay men were identified and explored.

M.A. (Psychology) / Please refer to full text to view abstract

Past research has indicated that masculine socialization norms contribute to avoidance of intimacy in close relationships, which has been proposed to inhibit men’s psychological adjustment. The goal of the current dissertation was to examine associations among parental bonding, gender role conflict, affect regulation capacity, and adult attachment avoidance to describe the dynamic interaction between psychological and societal influences impacting adult attachment style. The present investigation employed a developmental contextual framework used to examine attachment and psychoanalytic theories describing the evolution of characteristic male interpersonal strategies. In the current study, it was proposed that parental bonding would predict adult attachment avoidance, gender role conflict, and affect regulation capacity. It was also hypothesized that both gender role conflict and three distinct affect regulation variables would predict adult attachment avoidance. Finally, the study aimed to test a model proposing that gender role conflict and affect regulation variables mediate the relationship between parental bonding and avoidance of intimacy in romantic relationships. Two hundred and sixty-six undergraduate men completed a series of online surveys and 10 of these individuals participated in open-ended, follow-up interviews. The relationships between study variables were examined with linear regression and mediational analyses. Qualitative data regarding constructs of interest were elicited from interview respondents and interpreted for themes. Results demonstrated partial support for mediation effects, indicating that gender role conflict, emotion regulation suppression, and emotion regulation reappraisal helped to explain the association between maternal bonding care and adult attachment avoidance. In addition, interview themes related to five content areas were described and integrated with implications for future research directions and clinical applications. Results of this study identified significant mechanisms underlying the development of men’s maladaptive discomfort with intimacy in adulthood. Findings revealed through investigation of male interpersonal connections and the origins of specific emotion regulation strategies will assist researchers and clinicians to further elucidate the construct of masculinity from a developmental contextual perspective. Study outcomes indicated that masculine gender role socialization and capacity to regulate affect should be key points of intervention for therapists working with men presenting with relational difficulties linked to early parental attachments. / text