This file lists references and information on how to help clients experiencing GRC. Before listing the references, this file shows a conceptual model for therapists to use when assessing men’s GRC during therapy. Thirteen assessment domains are discussed for therapists to consider when working with men.

This file also has a diagnostic schema to assess men’s GRC including a nine cell model that specifically assesses men’s gender role restrictions, devaluations, and violations.

The file closes with journal publications and dissertations references on GRC’s relationship to clinical issues including: therapy, clients, therapists, and counselor training.

Additionally, two other files on the web page provide more information on using GRC in a psychotherapeutic and psychoeducational context. These files are: “Gender Role Journey Theory, Therapy & Research” and the “Psychoeducational Interventions with GRC”. Also see Gender Role Journey Theory, Therapy & Research File for more information.

 

 

Wounds of Gender Role Conflict
Experience of GRC Wounds Conflict Within Self Conflict Caused by Others Conflict Expressed Towards Others
A. Devaluations A1 A2 A3
B. Restrictions B1 B2 B3
C. Violations C1 C2 C3

Revision of O'Neil (1990)

 

 

Table 1: Diagnostic Schema for Assessing Men's GRC
Personal Experience and Outcomes of Gender Role Conflict: SPC, RE, RABBM, CBWFR GRC Within Self GRC Caused by Others GRC Inflicted on Others
D. Gender Role Conflict Devaluations D1 Self Devaluation
How does the man devalue himself because of masculinity ideology & GRC?		 D2 Devaluation by Others
How is the man devalued by others because of masculinity ideology & GRC?		 D3 Devaluation of Others
How does the man devalue others because of their masculinity ideology & GRC?
R. Gender Role Conflict Restrictions R1 Self Restriction
How does the man restrict himself because of masculinity ideology & GRC? 		 R2 Restriction by Others
How is the man restricted by others because of masculinity ideology & GRC?		 R3 Restriction of Others
How does the man restrict others because of their masculinity ideology & GRC?
V. Gender Role Conflict Violations V1 Self Violation
How does the man violate himself because of masculinity ideology & GRC? 		 V2 Violation by Others
How is the man violated by others because of masculinity ideology & GRC?		 V3 Violation of Others
How does the man violate others because of their masculinity ideology & GRC?
GRC= Gender role conflict, SPC = success/power competition, RE = restrictive emotionality, RABBM = restrictive/affectionate behavior between men, CBWFR = Conflict between work and family relations

from O'Neil 1990, 2015

Click the boxes below for clinically focused publications in journals and dissertations:

Journal Publications: Therapy, Clients, Therapists, Counselor Training

Blashill, A.J. & Hughes, H.H. (2009) Gender role and gender role conflict: Preliminary considerations for psychotherapy with gay men. Journal of Gay and Lesbian Mental Health, 13, 170-186.

Blazina, C. (1997). The fear of the feminine in the western psyche and the masculine task of disidentification: Their effect on the development of masculine gender role conflict. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 6, 55-68.

Blazina, C. (2001). Analytic psychology and gender role conflict: The development of the fragile masculine self. Psychotherapy, 38, 50-59.

Blazina, C. (2004). Gender role conflict and the disidentification process: Two case studies on the fragile masculine self. The Journal of Men’s Studies, 12, 151-161.

Blazina, C. & Marks, I. (2001). College men's affective reactions to individual therapy, psychoeducation workshops, and men's support group brochures: The influence of gender role conflict and power dynamics upon help seeking attitudes. Psychotherapy, 38, 297-305.

Brooks, G. (2010). Beyond the crises of masculinity: A transtheoretical model for male-friendly therapy. Washington, D.C. : American Psychological Association.

Cochran, S.V. & Rabinowitz, F.E. (2003). Gender-sensitive recommendation for assessment and treatment of men. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 132-140.

Cusack, J., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C.J., & Ciarrochi, J. (2006). Emotional expression, perceptions of therapy, and help seeking intentions in men attending therapy services. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 7, 69-82.

Englar, M. (2006). The masculine norms and the therapy process. In M. Englar-Carlson & M. A. Stevens (Eds.) In the room with men: A casebook of therapeutic change. Washington, D.C.: APA Books.

Englar, M. & Stevens, M. A. (2006). (Eds.) In the room with men: A casebook of therapeutic change. Washington, D.C.: APA Books.

Fischer, A.R. & Good, G.E.. (1997). Men and psychotherapy: An investigation of alexithymia, intimacy, and masculine gender roles. Psychotherapy, 34, 160-170.

Hayes, J.A. & Mahalik, J.R. (2000). Gender role conflict and psychological distress in male counseling center clients. Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 2, 116-125.

Houle, J., Mishara, B.L., Chagnon, F. (2009). An empirical test of a mediational model of impact of the traditional male gender role on suicidal behavior in men. Journal of Affective Disorders.107, 37-43.

Kierski, W. & Blazina, C. (2009). The male fear of femininity and its effect on counseling and psychotherapy. The Journal of Men's Studies, 17, 155-172.

Kiselica, M. S. (2011). Promoting positive masculinity while addressing gender role conflict: A balanced theoretical approach to clinical work with boys and men. In C. Blazina, D. S. Shen-Miller, C. Blazina, D. S. Shen-Miller (Eds.) , An international psychology of men: Theoretical advances, case studies, and clinical innovations (pp. 127-156). New York, NY US: Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. Retrieved from EBSCOhost.

Komlenac ,  N., & Hochleitner, M. (2019). Male medical students’ gender role conflict is associated with discomfort with dealing with patients’ sexual health issues. The Journal of Sex Research, 1-7.  http://doi.org/10.1080/00224499-2019.

Komenac, N., Siller, H., Bliem, H.R. & Hochleitner, M. (2018). Association between gender role conflict, sexual dysfunction and male patients’ wishes for physician-patient conversations about sexual health. Psychology of Men and Masculinity http://dx.doi org/10.1037/men0000162.

Komlenac ,  N., & Hochleitner, M. (2019). Male medical students’ gender role conflict is associated with discomfort with dealing with patients’ sexual health issues. The Journal of Sex Research, 1-7.  http://doi.org/10.1080/00224499-2019.

Mahalik, J.R. & Cournoyer, R.J. (2000). Identifying gender role conflict messages that distinguish mildly depressed from non-depressed men. Psychology of Men and Masculinity. 1, 109-115.

Mahalik, J.R., Cournoyer, R., DeFranc, W., Cherry, M., Napolitano, J.M. (1998). Gender role conflict: Predictors of men's utilization of psychological defenses. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 45, 247-255.

Mahalik, J.R. (1999). Interpersonal psychotherapy with men who experience gender role conflict. Professional Psychology: Theory, Research, and Practice. 30, 5-13.

Mahalik, J.R. (1999). Incorporating a gender role strain perspective in assessing and treating men’s cognitive distortions. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 30, 333-340.

Mahlalik, J.R., Good, G.E., & Englar-Carlson, M. (2003). Masculinity scripts, presenting concerns, and help seeking: Implications for practice and training. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 34, 123-131.

McCarthy, J & Holliday, E.L. (2004). Help seeking and counseling within a traditional male gender role: An examination from a multicultural perspective. Journal of Counseling and Development, 82, 25-30.

O’Brien, J.M. (August, 2007). Outcome measures in private practice: reflections on male gender roles. In K. Chwalisz (Chair) Evidence based practice: Practice, research, and social justice consideration. Symposium presented at the American psychological Association, San Francisco, CA.

O'Neil, J. M. (1982). Gender role conflict and strain in men's lives: Implications for psychiatrists, psychologists, and other human service providers. In K. Solomon & N. B. Levy (Eds.), Men in transition: Changing male roles, theory, and therapy (pp. 5-44).  New York: Plenum Publishing Co.

O’Neil, J.M. (2013). Gender-role conflict research thirty years later: An evidenced based  diagnostic schema. Journal of Counseling and Development. 91, 499-498.

O’Neil, J. M. (1990). Assessing men’s gender role conflict. In D. Moore & F. Leafgren (Eds.) Men in conflict: Problem solving strategies and interventions. Alexandria, VA: American Association for Counseling and Development.

O’Neil, J.M. (2013). The psychology of men. In J. Hansen & B. Altmaier (Ed.s). Handbook of Counseling Psychology. New York: Oxford University Press.

O’Neil, J.M. & Lujan, M. L. (2009). Preventing boys problems in schools through psychoeducation programming: A call to action. Psychology in the Schools, 46, 257-266.

O’Neil, J.M. & Lujan, M. L. (2009) An assessment paradigm for fathers in therapy using      gender role conflict theory. In C. Z. Oren & D. C. Oren (Eds.) Counseling fathers (pp. 40- 49).

O’Neil, J.M. (2008). Men’ gender role conflict: 25 year research summary (Special Issue). The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 358-476.

O’Neil, J.M. (2008). Summarizing twenty-five years of research on men’s gender role conflict using the Gender Role Conflict Scale: New research paradigms and clinical implications. The Counseling Psychologist. 36, 358-445.

O’Neil, J.M. (2006). Helping Jack heal his emotional wounds using the gender role conflict diagnostic schema . In M. Englar-Carlson & M.A. Stevens (Eds.) In the therapy room with men: A casebook about psychotherapeutic process and change with male clients. Washington, D.C.: American Psychological Association.

Rabinowitz, F. E., & Cochran, S. V. (2002). Deepening psychotherapy with men. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.

Robertson, J.M. (2012). Tough guys and true believers: Managing authoritarian men in the psychotherapy room. New York: Routledge

Robertson, J. M., & Fitzgerald, L. F. (1990). The (mis) treatment of men: Effects of client gender role and life-style on diagnosis and attribution of pathology. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 37, 3-9.

Rochlen, A.B. & O'Brien, K.M. (2002). The relation of male gender role conflict and attitudes toward career counseling to interest in and preference for career counseling styles. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 3, 9-21.

Rochlen, A.B., Blazina, C. & Raghunathan, R. (2002). Gender role conflict, attitudes toward career counseling, career decision making, and perceptions of career advertising brochures. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 3, 127-137.

Rochlen, A.B. (2005). Men In (and Out) of therapy: Central concepts, emerging directions, and remaining challenges. Journal of Clinical Psychology. Published on line in Wiley Interscience (www.interscience.wiley.com).

Rochlen, A.B., Land, L.N. & Wong, Y.J. (2004). Male restrictive emotionality and evaluation of online versus face-to-face counseling. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 5, 190-200.

Schaub, M. & Williams, C. (2007). Examining the relations between masculine gender role conflict and men's expectations about counseling. Psychology of Men and masculinity, 8, 40-52.

Silverstein, L.B. Auerbach, C.F. & Levant, R.F. (2002). Contemporary fathers reconstructing masculinity: Clinical implications of gender role strain. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 361-369.

Wester, S.R., McDonough, T.A., White, M., Vogel, D.L. & Taylor, L. (2010). Using gender role conflict theory in counseling male-to-female transgender individuals. Journal of Counseling and Development, 88, 214-219.

Wester, S.R. & Vogel, D.L. (2002). Working with the masculine mystique: Male gender role conflict, counseling self-efficacy, and the training of male psychologists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 370-376.

Wester, S.R. (2008). Male gender role conflict and multiculturalism: Implications for Counseling Psychology. The Counseling Psychologist, 36, 294-324.

Wester, S. R., Vogel, D. L., & Archer, J. (2004). Male restricted emotionality and counseling supervision. Journal of Counseling and Development, 82, 91-98.

Wisch, A.& Mahalik, J.R. (1999). Male therapists' clinical bias: Influence of client gender roles and therapist gender role conflict. Journal of Counseling Psychology. 46, 51-60.

Wisch, A.F., Mahalik, J.R., Hayes, J.A., & Nutt, E.A. (1995). The impact of gender role conflict an Cusack, J., Deane, F.P., Wilson, C.J., & Ciarrochi, J. (2006). Emotional expression, perceptions of therapy, and help seeking intentions in men attending therapy services. Psychology of Men and Masculinity, 7, 69-82.

Dissertations: Therapy, Clients, Therapists, Counselor Training

Crapser , B. (2018). Relationship of counselor trainees’ gender role ideologies on clinical judgement with male clients. Doctoral dissertations. 1715. https//opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertation/1715.

Englar-Carlson, M. (2001). Two causal models of white male psychological help-seeking attitudes and preferences for psychotherapy. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa). Dissertation Abstracts International, 58/05, 1599.

Evans, P. (2006). An examination of factors which influence the attitudes of African American males toward psychotherapy. (Doctoral dissertation, Tennessee State University) Dissertation Abstracts International, 67/09.

Fahey, J. (2003). Male role issues among hospitalized alcohol abusers: Prediction of addiction severity, readiness to change and intensity of drug-thinking style. (Doctoral disser Fleming, M.L. (2012). Help seeking attitudes toward mental health issues among military men who have served in combat. (Doctoral dissertation)., St. Mary's University). Dissertation Abstracts International.

Fleming, M.L. (2012). Help seeking attitudes toward mental health issues among military men who have served in combat. (Doctoral dissertation)., St. Mary's University). Dissertation Abstracts International.

Generali, M.M. (2002). Gender role conflict and help seeking attitudes among males referred for alcohol abuse treatment: A comparison of self versus mandatory referral. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut). Dissertation Abstracts International, 63, 1724.

Holohan, S. (2008). Gender role conflict and therapist orientation: A study of the male psychotherapist of Irish Council of Psychotherapy. Master of Science Degree. Dublin City University, Dublin Ireland.

Houle, J. (2005). Help seeking, social support, and masculine gender role in men who attempted suicide. Unpublished doctoral dissertation, University of Quebec at Montreal, Montreal, Canada.

Jin, H.Z. (2012). Getting men with high gender role conflict to seek counseling: The effects of the therapist's gender and type of outreach message. (Masters Thesis, National University of Singapore, University of Melbourne- Singapore.

Johnston, C.L. (2005). An examination of gender role conflict among male forensic inpatients: Clinical Research Project, Argosy University/Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona.

Jones, D.E. (1995). Male roles: An exploratory study of emergent leadership and gender role conflict in male therapy groups. (Doctoral dissertation, Rosebridge Graduate School of Integrative Psychology). Dissertation Abstracts International.

Jooma, S. (2014). Men reactions to variants of self-disclosure in male psychotherapists. (Doctoral dissertation, Baylor University) Dissertation Abstracts International

Mertens, C.E. (2000). Male gender. role conflict in depressed versus nondepressed medical populations. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Iowa). Dissertation Abstract Internatio University). Dissertation Abstracts International, 65, 2641.

Mobley, A.K. (2005). The relationship among gender role conflict, counselor training, and wellness in professional male counselors. (Doctoral dissertation, University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Dissertation Abstracts International, 65, 2909.

Nahon, D. (1992). The effectiveness of "masculinist" group psychotherapy in the treatment of recently separated men. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Montreal, Montreal, Canada).

Noyes, B.B. (2004). Gender role conflict as a predictor of therapy outcomes. (Masters Thesis, Department of Educational Psychology, University of Utah).

Pappadis, M.R. (2014). A mixed method investigation of the impact of neurocognition, gender role conflict, and self-identity on psychological attachment to traumatic brain injury. (Doctoral dissertation- University of Houston) Dissertation Abstracts International

Reis, R.L. (2008). Men and therapy: Comparisons of college men who have sought therapy and have not sought therapy. (Doctoral dissertation, The University of North Dakota). Dissertation Abstract International, 68/12.

Reznicek- Parrado, J. (2013). Strengths versus deficits: The impact of gender role conflict and counseling approach on the appeal of therapy for men. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Nebraska), Lincoln, NE.

Sbaratta, C.A.T. (2011). Male psychology doctoral students: The influence of GRC on training. (Doctoral dissertation, Seton Hall University). Dissertations and theses data bases( UMI no. 3472702).

Spillman, J. (2007). Gender role conflict and empathy with male counselors in training: An empirical investigations (Doctoral dissertation, Idaho State University). Dissertation Abstracts International, 68/06.

Wester, R.R. (2000). The relationship between male restrictive emotionality and perceptions of counselor supervision. (Doctoral dissertation, University of Florida). Dissertation Abstracts International, 61, 4436.

Whetstine-Richel, T.W. (2014). The relationship between gender role conflict and self and other awareness in male counselors treating men. (Doctoral Dissertation – Washington State