Stoic, tough, self-reliant, unemotional.

Those are some of the watchwords of traditional masculinity,

and for some men, they hold powerful sway.

The idea that, quote, real men, unquote,

exhibit these characteristics is ingrained in our culture,

even after decades of discussing evolving gender roles. Research has long shown that men are less likely than women to seek help

or receive treatment for mental health issues.

They are less likely than women to say that they even have close friendships.

In the United States, men die on average five years earlier than women,

and they die by suicide 3.6 times more often. Men commit

90% of all homicides in the US and they make up 77% of homicide victims. What role does

traditional masculine ideology play in these disparities and what can be done to change them? How does

traditional masculinity affect men's mental health to change them? How does traditional masculinity affect

men's mental health and physical health? How does it affect women? Have our ideas of masculinity

changed over time, are younger men less tied to traditional masculine ideas than their fathers?

And what have psychologists learned about the most effective ways to reach out to men?

Welcome to Speaking of Psychology, the flagship podcast of the American Psychological Association

that examines the links between psychological science and everyday life.

I'm Kim Mills.

Our guest today is Dr. Ronald Levant, an emeritus professor of psychology at the University of Ohio in Akron.

Over his decades-long career, Dr. Levant helped establish the psychology of men and masculinities as a field of study,

conducting research on how traditional masculinity ideology shapes men's lives and affects both men and women he has

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