Research showed that emotion suppression produces a paradoxical effect wherein the suppressed thought or emotion actually becomes more prominent and generates greater emotional and physiological distress and dyscontrol. Moreover, the inhibition of emotional expression may increase the likelihood of behavior problems, including aggression and health-risk behaviors.

How do socialized emotion regulation difficulties contribute to psychopathology in men?

Beginning in childhood, boys and men receive different messages than girls and women about how, when, and which emotions to regulate. Specifically, the socialization of emotion among boys and men may encourage the inhibition of emotional expression, except anger.

Pepperdine University

Masculinity influences emotion regulation in two major ways. One is through childhood socialization; the other is through cognitive and experiential factors of masculinity.

How does masculinity affect emotion regulation?

Berke, D. S., Reidy, D., & Zeichner, A. (2018). Masculinity, emotion regulation, and psychopathology: A critical review and integrated model. Clinical psychology review, 66, 106-116. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2018.01.004 

Masculinity, emotion regulation, and psychopathology: A critical review and integrated model

Childhood socialization of boys

The stress associated with violations of masculine norms, which have the potential to threaten men's masculine status, restricts their emotional expression and regulation.

The experiential factor of masculinity

Individual men are posited to incorporate cognitions about masculinity into their emotional and behavioral repertoires, making it difficult for them to put words on feelings or emotions.


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