1. The Scottish Male Professor Ewan Gillon Glasgow Caledonian University First Psychology Centres Glasgow, Edinburgh and Borders

2. Who/what is the Scottish male?

3. Ronnie Corbett

4. Sean Connery

5. Alex Ferguson

6. The braveheart…

7. Gordon Brown..

8. And finally Ewan McGregor (photo by request)

9. The Scottish ‘male’? Different masculinities (metrosexual etc.) Still predominant in many are characteristics such as; Toughness Stoicism Lack of emotionality / detached Rationality Competitiveness Aggression, Striving for power/control

10. What does Psychology say? There is a dominant male gender role in Western world This spells out to men what is expected of them – in terms of characteristics and qualities (masculinity) This is often termed the ‘traditional’ male gender role – due to its historical significance in 20 th century It is learned

11. Key dimensions of male gender role (Brannon, 1976) No Sissy Stuff - Detachment, rationality - nothing that hints of ‘femininty’ A Big Wheel - power, status, dominance - career/financial success (or alternatives, such as crime)

12. Key dimensions of male sex/gender role A Sturdy Oak - Strong, emotionally and physically. Independent. NO vulnerability or weakness. Give em Hell - Daring, risk-taking, competitive and aggressive - always going forward

13. Men and emotions Men are socialised to be men from infancy – in particular to suppress ‘vulnerable’ emotions (big boys don’t cry) Supression of vulnerable emotions – encouraged by parents/peers (particularly Father if available as role model)

14. Normative male alexithemia (Levant 1997) Men often have ‘restrictive emotionality’ – poorly developed capacity to understand emotional states in self (and others), particularly vulnerable/nurturing emotions Implications for mental health – difficulties internalised, inaccurately symbolised, unaddressed…

15. From where does the traditional male gender role originate? Has a functional basis in labour distribution in industrialised Western economies Encouraged by wartime traumas, poverty and deprivation Psychological explanations (separation from Mother) The Male Brain?

16. Why is this ‘traditional’ male gender role so powerful in Scotland? Strong working class heritage – linked to role as ‘provider’ ? Alternative form of ‘power’ for men with little access to financial resources or cultural capital? Lack of confidence - a kind of defence…? Scottish mentality and national identity ?

17. Is the ‘traditional’ male gender role a problem?

18. Male Gender Role Strain (Pleck et al, 1993) Proposes that the dominant male gender role is highly dangerous to men Encourages risk-taking and aggression Emphasises status, success and competitiveness Prevents intimacy, vulnerability and emotional help-seeking Encourages ‘acting-out’ forms of coping NOT to be a ‘real man’ has its own psychological effects, such as stress and feelings of failure It is a NO WIN situation – many men WILL encounter distress

19. Men and Wellbeing in Scotland Young Scots men twice as likely to complete suicide as die in a road accident. Suicide is a leading cause of death for men under 35 Suicide and Homicide rates in Scotland are almost double than in England and Wales Homicide is primarily committed by young men against young men Over a third of men aged 16-64 drink alcohol in excess of recommended limits, and twice as many men than women consulted their GP for alcohol related problems in 2000 Men are five times more likely than women to have drug/alcohol problem One man in eight is alcohol dependent 90% of rough sleepers are men 94% of the prison population are men 72% of male prisoners suffer from two or more ‘mental disorders’ 84% of children excluded from schools are boys

20. Men and Mental Health – its complex Despite worrying picture re. alcohol, violence and suicide, Audit Scotland Report 2009: 108 women per 1000 (10.8%) in Scotland have mixed anxiety/depression 68 men per 1000 (6.8%) in Scotland have mixed anxiety/depression How do we explain this and what are its consequences?

21. Men often express distress in ‘male’ ways Acting-out’ mode - stoicism, numbing (e.g. alcohol), risk-taking, anger/aggression etc. Do rather than talk Difficulties for men expressing recognising or expressing emotional distress, and asking for help (not talk/appear vulnerable) Often no clear pathway into psychological support – support ‘insensitive’ to male distress

22. Another example - Depression Definitions of difficulties often assumes ‘acting-in’ mode of relating to emotional experiencing Kilmartin (2005); “masculine symptoms of depression should include bad temper, aggression, substance abuse, physical/sexual risk taking, emotional numbness, over-involvement in work, impoverished friendships” Men often ‘invisible’ to diagnosis-led services (e.g primary care)

23. How do we help men? Traditional male gender role presents major challenges in field of mental health ‘failure’ to manage/cope presents major conflict for many men – shame/stigma etc. Mental Health frameworks often remove power/control – again conflicting with traditional male gender role – so men avoid them Men’s distress can be ‘invisible’ so diagnosis problematic

24. Vital to develop think about men’s needs Male-sensitive messages Male sensitive services Contexts that are relevant to men Environments that are ‘male-friendly’ Provision that ‘speaks’ to men (information provision vital, ‘doing’ not just talking etc.) Subvert meanings – strength and control in tackling problems (not failure in having them)

25. Self-management Offers powerful opportunities to allow men to take responsibility, feel in control – do it ‘their way’ There are many challenges How NOT to collude with traditional male gender role (downplaying, shaming etc.) How to maintain male-sensitive approaches BUT if we get it right just think of the possibilities..

26. Who knows?