There's no better way to make a guy mad than to question his masculinity.
New research from Duke University highlights that when men feel their masculinity is threatened, their response can often be aggressive, particularly among younger men whose sense of manhood heavily relies on external opinions.
Let's find out more.
A new study on masculinity and aggression
The study, conducted by Adam Stanaland, a Ph.D. candidate in psychology and public policy at Duke, explored the connection between masculinity, aggression, and social pressures.
The research involved 195 undergraduate students and a random pool of 390 men aged 18 to 55.
Participants were asked questions about stereotypically masculine topics and then told their scores were either higher or lower than average.
Men who received low scores were also informed they were "less manly than the average man."
The study revealed that men who had a more fragile sense of masculinity and whose feelings of manhood relied on others were more prone to aggressive thoughts.
The aggressive responses were most pronounced among younger men, aged 18 to 29, and less so among middle-aged and older participants.
Interestingly, female students did not exhibit a similar aggressive response when their gender was threatened.
Why is it important?
The study's findings suggest that younger men, striving to establish or prove their societal role, experience a more fragile sense of masculinity and are more sensitive to threats against it.
This phenomenon, as the study points out, might have implications in various areas of men's behavior, including violence, terrorism, and aggression.
Understanding this connection better is essential for comprehending such behaviors and addressing them effectively.
