Understanding Men in Understanding Men in Contemporary CultureContemporary Culture

By:By:Cybele ZavalaCybele ZavalaNatalie PourroyNatalie Pourroy

Brooke BrandeberryBrooke Brandeberry

Effects of Masculine Identity Effects of Masculine Identity and Gender Role Stress on and Gender Role Stress on Aggression in Men Aggression in Men By: Amy Cohn and Amos By: Amy Cohn and Amos

ZeichnerZeichner • ““Predominant theories posit that an association between masculine Predominant theories posit that an association between masculine

identity and aggression is moderated by gender role stress, the identity and aggression is moderated by gender role stress, the degree to which a man experiences cognitive stress when adhering degree to which a man experiences cognitive stress when adhering to masculine norms. This study examines whether masculine to masculine norms. This study examines whether masculine identity predicts aggressive behavior under laboratory conditions identity predicts aggressive behavior under laboratory conditions and whether this relationship is moderated by gender role stress. and whether this relationship is moderated by gender role stress. Seventy-five men participated in a competitive reaction time task Seventy-five men participated in a competitive reaction time task wherein they were given the choice to shock or refrain from wherein they were given the choice to shock or refrain from shocking a bogus opponent. Analyses revealed a significant shocking a bogus opponent. Analyses revealed a significant moderating effect of gender role stress on the relationship between moderating effect of gender role stress on the relationship between identity and aggression. Significant main effects for identity and identity and aggression. Significant main effects for identity and gender role stress were found, indicating that gender role stress and gender role stress were found, indicating that gender role stress and masculine identity, alone and together, account for a significant masculine identity, alone and together, account for a significant amount of variance in aggressive behavior in men. Effects of amount of variance in aggressive behavior in men. Effects of masculine identity and gender role stress on initiation and masculine identity and gender role stress on initiation and maintenance of aggressive behavior are discussed in the context of maintenance of aggressive behavior are discussed in the context of gender role socialization in men.”gender role socialization in men.” – Cohn, Amy and Zeichner, Amos. (2006). Cohn, Amy and Zeichner, Amos. (2006). Effects of Masculine Identity and Gender Effects of Masculine Identity and Gender

Role Stress on Aggression in MenRole Stress on Aggression in Men. Psychology of. Psychology of MenMen & Masculinity. 7. 179-190. & Masculinity. 7. 179-190.

ObjectivesObjectives

• ““Investigate unique Investigate unique (main) as well as (main) as well as multiplicative multiplicative (moderating) (moderating) effects of masculine effects of masculine identity and gender identity and gender role stress on role stress on predicting predicting aggression in men”aggression in men”

HypothesesHypotheses

1.1. Strong positive relationship would exist between Strong positive relationship would exist between masculine identity and aggression, such that higher masculine identity and aggression, such that higher levels of masculine identity would predict higher levels of masculine identity would predict higher levels of aggressionlevels of aggression

2.2. A positive relationship between gender role stress A positive relationship between gender role stress and aggression, such that higher levels of gender and aggression, such that higher levels of gender role stress would predict greater aggressive role stress would predict greater aggressive respondingresponding

3.3. Gender roles stress would exert a moderating effect Gender roles stress would exert a moderating effect on the relationship between masculine identity and on the relationship between masculine identity and aggression, such that masculine identity would be aggression, such that masculine identity would be significantly and positively associated with direct significantly and positively associated with direct aggression at higher levels of gender role stress aggression at higher levels of gender role stress and demonstrate a non-significant relationship to and demonstrate a non-significant relationship to aggression at lower levels of gender role stressaggression at lower levels of gender role stress

MethodMethod

• 97 undergraduate men97 undergraduate men– Age 18-35Age 18-35

• MaterialsMaterials– CMNI (Conformity to CMNI (Conformity to

Masculine Norms Masculine Norms Inventory)Inventory)

– GRCS (Gender Role GRCS (Gender Role Conflict Scale)Conflict Scale)

– RCAP (Response RCAP (Response Choice Aggression Choice Aggression Paradigm)Paradigm)

ProcedureProcedure

• Pain thresholds Pain thresholds determined for each determined for each participantparticipant

• Fake participant Fake participant

• Real participant Real participant thought he was thought he was competing in a competing in a reaction time and a reaction time and a personality trait taskpersonality trait task– Shocked when lost Shocked when lost

ResultsResults

1.1. Data concluded that Data concluded that masculine identity was masculine identity was positively significant with positively significant with aggression of the RCAPaggression of the RCAP

2.2. Gender role stress was Gender role stress was also positively significant also positively significant with direct physical with direct physical aggressionaggression

3.3. Men who follow Men who follow masculine norms, when masculine norms, when provoked can react in provoked can react in such a way that is such a way that is impulsive and can harm impulsive and can harm others others

Positive CritiquePositive Critique

• Masculinity is linked to Masculinity is linked to aggression and aggression and attitudes endorsing attitudes endorsing violenceviolence

• This study ruled out This study ruled out demand characteristics demand characteristics and participant bias, in and participant bias, in order to just measure order to just measure aggressionaggression

• RCAP allows us to see RCAP allows us to see what provokes them to what provokes them to inflict harm on othersinflict harm on others

Negative CritiqueNegative Critique

• Does not determine Does not determine causality only causality only moderating effectsmoderating effects

• Only two of seven Only two of seven interactions were interactions were found to be significantfound to be significant

• Lack of diversity in:Lack of diversity in:– EthnicityEthnicity– AgeAge– Relationship StatusRelationship Status

Test QuestionsTest Questions

1.1. This study predicted the effects of This study predicted the effects of gender role stress and masculine gender role stress and masculine identity on aggression in men. T/Fidentity on aggression in men. T/F

2.2. Men who follow masculine norms do Men who follow masculine norms do not react in an aggressive manner. T/Fnot react in an aggressive manner. T/F

3.3. This study lacked diversity in ethnicity, This study lacked diversity in ethnicity, age, and educational status. T/Fage, and educational status. T/F

Test QuestionsTest Questions

1.1. What did the shock intensity measure? a. What did the shock intensity measure? a. testosterone b. blood pressure c. reaction testosterone b. blood pressure c. reaction time d. level of aggressiontime d. level of aggression

2.2. What was the participant thinking he was What was the participant thinking he was competing in? a. risk taking b. reaction competing in? a. risk taking b. reaction time c. test on personality traits d. both b time c. test on personality traits d. both b and cand c

3.3. This study showed that masculinity is This study showed that masculinity is linked to: a. self worth b. emotional linked to: a. self worth b. emotional regulation c. aggressionregulation c. aggression

VideoVideo

• Tough Guise: Violence, Media & the CTough Guise: Violence, Media & the Crisis in Masculinity risis in Masculinity – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3exz

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