Archived
This content is available here for research, reference, and/or recordkeeping.
Author ORCID Identifier
Date Available
4-28-2022
Year of Publication
2022
Document Type
Capstone
Degree Name
Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
Faculty
Dr. Laura Escobar-Ratliff
Abstract
Men have problems when it comes to mental health. Specifically, men are more likely to have a fatality of suicide than other genders and are more likely to have substance abuse problems than other genders. Combine this with societal problems such as the shrinking physical labor market and instability of family systems that have traditionally been seen as “men’s work.” The gender is not adapting to modern social functioning in the way that other genders have been, which means that therapy is not a useful tool for men and their problems. This means that therapy systems need an approach to aid in dealing with men on their terms. Presented here is Social Learning Theory as a means of explanation of how men are socialized in their environments. Therapists can adapt these already used covert channels of communication to become overt therapeutic tools and perspectives to aid in the treatment of these patients. The main idea behind this new approach is: reach out to men in a way that they are already being taught and change how support services are utilized with this population.
Starting with a systematic literature review to define toxic masculinity as an academic term to begin a more scholarly conversation, this capstone presents as an introduction to treating men as a specialty population. The conclusion of this presentation exhibits two case reviews about how to use this perspective when it comes to working with this population. This would be beneficial to those who are practicing any type of behavior modification/skills learning with men in that these case examples provide a framework for utilizing Solution Focused Therapy to provide tools for the therapist to interact on a more personal level with the patient and the systematic literature review provides for a starting point for further discussion about the perception and explanation of men’s attempt to adapt to modern culture.
Recommended Citation
Hemlepp, Aaron, "What's the Play? Using Social Learning Theory to Treat Men in Mental Health" (2022). DSW Capstone Projects. 43.
https://uknowledge.uky.edu/csw_grad_reports/43
