APA’s practice guidelines are intended to help psychology practitioners provide patients with the most effective, evidence-based care. Normally, you wouldn’t read about them in The New York Times or see them reported on CNN.
Not so with APA’s Guidelines for Psychological Practice With Boys and Men (PDF, 444KB)opens in new window.
APA’s Council of Representatives approved the guidelines in August 2018 and they were the topic of an APA Monitor continuing-education article in January 2019. Although the guidelines are intended for a clinical audience, a tweet about the Monitor article led to an eruption on social media with some asserting that the guidelines were an attack on men and masculinity.
Social media-fueled outrage that APA had “declared war on men,” and this incorrect headline moved quickly from Twitter to conservative media, including the National Review and news programs such as “Fox and Friends” and “Tucker Carlson Tonight.” The audience of those outlets took up the cry that APA’s work to support men was actually intended to harm them or, at the very least, remake them.
The guidelines, developed over 13 years, are built on 40 years of research on boys and men. Research finds that many human characteristics that are stereotypically masculine — including strength, leadership and assertiveness — are positive for men and boys, as they are for all people. A key takeaway of the guidelines is that some masculine social norms, such as a reluctance to seek help, can undermine the health of boys and men. The guidelines point out that, compared with women, men are more likely to be victims of violence, to die by homicide or suicide, and to use substances.
This kind of complexity doesn’t fit well in a social media post.
Although the intended audience and technical nature of APA guidelines make them unusual topics for mainstream press coverage, the angry tweets and headlines drew journalists’ interest and allowed APA to open a conversation. With the voices of the guidelines’ key authors and the leadership of Div. 51 (Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinity), APA staff worked with major news outlets to share the facts about the guidelines, resulting in positive coverage in The New York Timesopens in new window, The Washington Postopens in new window, The Atlanticopens in new window, CNN, U.S. News and World Reportopens in new window, Healthline.com and many other top-tier publications.
Many of those media reports shed light on the significance of the guidelines — the first ever on men and boys. Coverage was also linked to Gillette’s “We Believe: The Best Men Can Be” ad campaignopens in new window on bullying and harassment, which the company released — coincidentally — just days after the Monitor tweet on the guidelines.
Coverage that started as “APA Declares War on Men” evolved to “Psychologists and Gillette are Right About Traditional Masculinityopens in new window.”
“The intent of the guidelines is to support men and boys, to provide insights into the problems they are encountering in today’s society and suggest ways that psychologists can help them,” says APA Chief of Professional Practice Jared Skillings, PhD, ABPP. “The guidelines aim to help psychologists work with men and boys to embrace their masculinity in flexible ways that can protect their health and enhance their lives.”
All APA practice guidelines are developed by task forces of experts and reviewed by APA boards and committees. They are also shared with the public for comment before they are adopted. APA guidelines do not take precedence over a psychologist’s informed professional judgment.
Read the Guidelines for Psychological Practice for Boys and Men (PDF, 444KB)opens in new window.
Read other APA practice guidelines.
