We're at McKay here and welcome to another edition of the Art of Manliness Podcast.

Several years ago, the American Psychological Association issued a set of guidelines for

psychologists working with boys and men.

Guideline number one says, psychologists strive to recognize that masculinities are constructed

based on social, cultural, and contextual norms.

Number three says, psychologists understand the impact of power, privilege, and sexism

on the development of boys and men, and on the relationships with others.

My guess says that these guidelines miss the mark, and are just one indicator of the

way in which the world of psychology misunderstands and consequently underserves men.

Dr. John Berry is a psychologist, the co-founder of the male psychology section of the British

Psychological Society, and the co-author of the perspectives and male psychology textbook.

Today on the show, John impacts the issues with thinking that masculinity is purely a social

construct, and that men's problems grow out of their power and privilege, and how these

issues prevent men from getting the help they need.

In the second half of our conversation, we discussed the surprising origin of the idea

of toxic masculinity, what really defines masculinity, and what effect internalizing a negative

or positive view of masculinity has on men.

We enter conversation with what works for men's mental health and wellbeing if you don't

want or need to go to therapy, and what you should look for in a therapist if you do.

The show is over, check out our show notes at aam.is slash male psych.

All right, John Berry.

Welcome to the show.

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