Alarming Statistics

• In 2019, men committed approximately 80% of all violent crimes, 90% of all murders, 97% of all rapes, 75% of all drug abuse violations, and 75% of all DUIs in the United States.[mfn] U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation (2019). Uniform crime reporting handbook. Retrieved from: https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2019/crime-in-the-u.s.-2019/tables/table-48[/mfn]
• Suicide rates among men are 4 times higher than compared to women even though diagnosed depression rates among men are lower than women.[mfn] American Foundation of Suicide Prevention (2015). Facts and figures. Retrieved from https://www.afsp.org/understanding-suicide/facts-and-figures[/mfn]
• The leading cause of death among people who misuse alcohol and drugs is suicide.[mfn] Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. (2008). Substance Abuse and Suicide Prevention: Evidence and Implications—A White Paper. (DHHS Publication No. SMA-08-4352). Rockville, MD: SAMHSA.[/mfn]
• From 2001 to 2014, men were significantly more likely to die from overdosing, across all drugs, than compared to women.[mfn] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Overdose death rates. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates on May 3, 2016.[/mfn]

What Research Reveals

• Many boys and men are socialized to resolve conflicts through use of aggressive and violent means.[mfn] Moore, T. M., & Stuart, G. L. (2005). A review of the literature on masculinity and partner violence. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 6(1), 46–61. doi:10.1037/1524-9220.6.1.46[/mfn]
• Socialization of boys and men to use aggression as a reinforcer of masculinity often occur through family members, friends, peers, movies, magazines, and other forms of media.[mfn] Kilmartin, C., & McDermott, R. C. (2015). Men’s violence and masculinities. In Y. J. Wong & S. R. Wester (Eds.), APA handbook of men and masculinities (pp. 615–636). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association. doi:10.1037/14594-028[/mfn]
• Most boys learn the negative consequences of violating expected masculine roles at an early age.[mfn] Reigeluth, C. S., & Addis, M. E. (2016). Adolescent boys’ experiences with policing of masculinity: Forms, functions, and consequences. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 17(1), 74–83. doi:10.1037/a0039342[/mfn]
• Being shamed and other early negative childhood experiences for expressing vulnerable emotions can have lasting effects into adulthood.[mfn] Pollack, W. S. (1995). No man is an island: Toward a new psychoanalytic psychology of men. In R. F. Levant & W. S. Pollack (Eds.), A new psychology of men (pp. 33–67). New York, NY: Basic Books[/mfn]
• Alcohol and drug use are common amongst men who are avoiding difficult emotional processes.[mfn] Elder, W. B., Domino, J. L., Mata-Galán, E. L., & Kilmartin, C. (2017). Masculinity as a symptom of posttraumatic stress. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 18(3), 198–207. doi:10.1037/men0000123[/mfn]
• Men may express depression more so in a covert manner, which could come in forms of irritability, lack of concentration, difficulties with motivation, emotional distancing, and sensitivity to perceived attacks on self-image.[mfn] Martin, L. A., Neighbor, H. W., & Griffith, D. M. (2013). The experience of symptoms of depression in men vs women: Analysis of the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. JAMA Psychiatry, 70(10), 1100–1106. doi:10.1001/jamapsychiatry.2013.1985[/mfn]
• Men may be deterred from seeking psychological services due to such services not being in alignment with masculine norms.[mfn]Addis, M. E. & Mahalik, J. R. (2003). Men, masculinity, and the contexts of helpseeking. American Psychologist, 58(1), 5–14. doi:10.1037/0003-066X.58.1.5[/mfn]
  
• From 2001 to 2014, men were significantly more likely to die from overdosing, across all drugs, than compared to women.[mfn] National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2015). Overdose death rates. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/related-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates on May 3, 2016.[/mfn]

Potential Solutions

• Men who are aware of the effects of power and privilege may be less reliant on using control and violence in relationships with others.[mfn] McDermott, R. C., Schwartz, J. P., & Trevathan-Minnis, M. (2012). Predicting men’s anger management: Relationships with gender role journey and entitlement. Psychology of Men & Masculinity, 13(1), 49–64. doi:10.1037/a0022689[/mfn]
• Appropriate addressing of privilege and power in relation to sexism can build knowledge, skills, and attitudes that can lead boys and men to less emotionally and socially restrictive lives.[mfn]American Psychological Association, Boys and Men Guidelines Group. (2018). APA guidelines for psychological practice with boys and men. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/about/policy/psychological-practice-boys-men-guidelines.pdf[/mfn]
• Discuss messages boys and men receive from their environment to help them understand how certain messages can prevent them from forming close and meaningful relationships with others.[mfn] Smiler, A. P. (2016). Dating and sex: A guide for the 21st century teen boy. Washington, DC: Magination Press.[/mfn]