Abstract
The study of Male Gender Role Conflict (MGRC) has emerged relatively recently as
a distinct research area in Psychotherapy and Psychology. Gender Role Conflict
(GRC) is defined as a psychological state in which socialized gender roles have
negative consequences for the individual or others. GRC occurs when rigid, sexist, or
restrictive gender roles result in restriction, devaluation, or violation of others or self.
Very little has been researched to date on the impact of MGRC among male therapists
specifically, and this forms the basis of the study. The study sets out to research
qualitatively, the influence of MGRC on male therapists, and its impact on their work
with clients in therapy. Established concepts and patterns of MGRC were used to
frame the research questions. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with five
individual male therapists in the Greater Dublin Area. The interviews were analysed
using qualitative thematic analysis. The study showed that MGRC was an influential
factor on male therapists’ and their work, particularly with regards to their experience
of failure in therapy, the experience of strong emotions with clients in therapy, and
their interaction with male clients. Failure could spillover from the professional into
the personal; strong and intense client-emotions in certain circumstances could
negatively impact therapists and cause or exacerbate emotional restrictiveness;
masculine ideology and identity could be threatened by a fear of the feminine and this
was reflected in client preference and experience; overall, the potential incongruence
between masculine norms and psychotherapy practice were highlighted. Author keywords: Gender, male, masculinity, conflict, roles
