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Men's issues: gender role conflict and substance abuse
Author(s) -
RITTER ALISON J.,
COLE MICHAEL J.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
drug and alcohol review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.018
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1465-3362
pISSN - 0959-5236
DOI - 10.1080/09595239200185641
Subject(s) - acknowledgement , psychological intervention , psychology , context (archaeology) , substance abuse , introspection , clinical psychology , social psychology , psychotherapist , psychiatry , paleontology , computer security , computer science , cognitive psychology , biology
The present paper aims to explore issues related to men within the context of seeking help for substance abuse. The male gender role is in conflict with help‐seeking behaviour and with the fundamental principles of therapy, i.e. introspection, emotional expressivity and acknowledgement of difficulties. This creates a paradox for the male seeking psychological treatment and, it will be argued, particularly for the male substance abuser. It is argued that interventions which address the gender role and challenge men's perceptions of themselves are critical variables in the outcome of therapy, i.e. enabling them to make the necessary changes in order to promote psychological well‐being. An examination of the male gender role in relation to intrapsychic issues and family systems will be followed by a brief discussion of therapeutic interventions. Some of the difficulties and issues confronted by workers who work with male substance abusers will be explored.