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Current research in masculinity studies has emphasised the social construction of a masculine identity rooted in historical and cultural contexts. This view excludes the psychological processes involved in the construction of a sense of self. Social constructionist and psychoanalytic perspectives tend to offer polarised views of the development of a sense of self. By adopting a combined approach incorporating both social constructionism and psychoanalysis, this study investigated how men negotiate social expectations regarding an 'acceptable' personal masculinity, and how they position themselves and others (men and women) in relation to these expectations. The participants were faced with an ideological dilemma regarding whether to conform to social expectations regarding hegemony versus being unique. This ideological dilemma was not easily resolved, resulting in a fragile sense of masculine self. This study shows that socially sanctioned masculine ideologies have significant implications on men's sense of self and the construction of a masculine identity. / Thesis (M.A.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 2003.

Narcissism is an incomplete stage of development causing narcissistic rage and injury to oneself and others. The narcissistic self is one of humiliation and of being powerless. A phenomenological hermeneutic research format was used to investigate and understand the lived experience of men who have been abusive and are transforming their narcissism. The phenomenon being investigated was approached with respect and sensitivity in understanding the actual lived experiences of the co-researchers. Under this template, research interviews were conducted with six male co-researchers, which produced eight themes. A summary of the findings was provided along with a look at the limitations of this study and implications for counseling that this study may have. My hypothesis is that the incomplete development of the narcissistic person can be overcome through the restoration of feeling, and also through realization of one’s most deepest and essential nature. / vii, 177 leaves ; 29 cm.

Biochemical theories postulate that deficient serotonergic functioning may be etiologically related to affective illness and aggressive behavior. In Study I mood and aggressivity were measured in thirty-six normal male subjects before and after ingestion of a Tryptophan Depleted, Tryptophan Loaded or Balanced amino acid mixture. While no differences in aggressivity were found, the Tryptophan Depleted group scored significantly higher at posttest on the MAACL Depression Scale than the control groups and demonstrated selective attention for dysphoric themes. In Study II a Balanced or Tryptophan Depleted amino acid mixture was administered to eighty normal male subjects prior to placing them in either a positive or negative environment, with or without instructions concerning the potential amino acid effects. The tryptophan depleted group became significantly more depressed than the control group regardless of environmental condition or instructional set. These findings suggest that lowered tryptophan may result in a central serotonergic dysfunction which is causally related to depressive affect and possibly to the pathogenesis of clinical forms of depression.

The purpose of this study was to apply concepts of virtue and positive psychology to the understanding of well-being in gay and lesbian individuals. Ninety-two self-identified gay and lesbian university students between the ages of 18 and 30 completed an online research survey to assess their well-being and character strengths. Preliminary factor analysis revealed a two-factor virtue structure underlying the 24 character strengths as outlined by the Values In Action (VIA) inventory. Participants were grouped using cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis was then performed to differentiate between group membership based on virtue factors. Results suggest that individuals with high autonomy and low overall well-being score lower in interpersonal strengths than those with balanced well-being. As social support has been identified as a key factor related to well-being for this population, further attention is warranted to study the relationship between autonomy, interpersonal character strengths, and social support in this population. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

The risky behavior of males has been proposed to be a strategy to display the relative quality of men’s genes and increase their competitiveness in gaining access to a mate. Low mood, a constellation of depression symptoms with less severity than to warrant a Major Depressive Disorder diagnosis, has been proposed to be an adaptive strategy to reduce harm and conserve energy in the face of competition. It is hypothesized in this study that males’ strategy of gaining access to a mate through displaying risky behavior will result in higher perceptions of their own value as a mate and the value of their short-term and long-term mates. It is also hypothesized that men who engage in risky behavior to increase their competitiveness will display fewer low mood symptoms than those who do not engage in risky behavior. Two hundred forty men between the ages of 18-36 years completed decision problems assessing risk preference and aversion, the Mate Value Inventory, and the Depression-Dejection subscale of the Profile of Mood States-Short Form. The results of a MANOVA analysis suggest that there were no significant differences between risky and non-risky males on their perception of their own mate value, the value of their short-term or long-term mates, and on low mood. The discussion focuses on the possible reasons for the pattern of responses displayed by the participants and methodological concerns. / Department of Counseling Psychology and Guidance Services

Masculinity and femininity are taken for granted as being a natural part of everyday existence forming acceptable images of what it means to be a man and a woman. It is revealed that in conforming to the sexual stereotype of what it means to be masculine and feminine, men's repression of their emotional life forms a counterpart of their oppression of women, for the repression of men's emotional life as a process, manifests itself through the oppression of women. The socioeconomic relations, being exploitative in nature, having been obscured and mystified by masculine and feminine forms of false consciousness, justify the prevalent social circumstances by portraying them as natural and inevitable, thus serving to hide the fact that men and women comprise of both, masculine and feminine characteristics. Disclosing the quality of the experience of men's repression of their emotional life as a counterpart of their oppression of women, through qualitative description and reflection, it is evident that individuality and human social relationships are restricted by the constraints of masculine and feminine stereotypes. It is clearly highlighted, that women help to perpetuate the repression of male emotional life and in turn their own oppression through supporting the successful work, status and power oriented 'macho' male. Through the recognition of the pressures, and a re-evaluation of the masculine role, men will no longer see cause to oppress women and through that there will no longer be a need to repress their own emotional life. There is a need for self-reflection in those individuals and groups restricted by the constraints of masculinity and femininity for the realization of new possibilities of enlightened social action and individuality.

There is a paucity of research studying variables which influence emotional reactions in response to conflict between intimates. The present study examined the roles of power and gender as determinants of affective response to audiotaped scenarios of intimate conflict. Sixty male and 60 female subjects were randomly assigned as either a group leader (high power condition) or group member (low power condition) for the performance of a group task. After receiving their group assignments, subjects completed an affect check list and then listened to an audiotape of a heated conflict between a man and a woman concerning sexual jealousy. Two tapes were presented to control for gender of initiator (i.e., who started the conflict) so that subjects heard either a male-initiated or a female-initiated conflict. After exposure to the conflict stimulus, subjects again completed an affect check list. It was hypothesized that subjects in the high power condition would report more anger than those in the low power condition. In addition, participants in the low power condition would report more anxiety than participants in the high power condition. Also, men were predicted to report more anger than women and women more anxiety than men. The highest anger ratings were found for participants in the low power condition listening to a person of the opposite gender initiate the conflict. This difference was significant for females, although a similar pattern for males was not. Furthermore, an interaction effect was found, with females who had listened to a female-initiated conflict in the high power condition reporting more anger than those in the low power condition, a response pattern that was in the opposite direction to the other three groups. A main effect was found for power, with participants in the low power condition reporting more anger than their high power counterparts. In addition, the results partially supported the hypothesis-regarding anxiety, with subjects in the low power condition reporting significantly more anxiety than those in the high power condition. These results, however, were limited to the male-initiated conflict. A significant gender difference was found for both the anger and anxiety ratings with women reporting more of both affect clusters than men. The results support the basic contention that power and gender are important determinants of affective responses to intimate conflict. The results are discussed in terms of the expectations and cognitions created by power and gender stereotypes and their influence on the process of labelling emotions within the context of intimate conflict. / Arts, Faculty of / Psychology, Department of / Graduate

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