Foundation for Male Studies

Normalization: Depathologizing Male Behavior To Create A New

Treatment Paradigm

Alan Ellis, LCSW, Gerard Treacy, LCSW, & Edward Stephens, MD

Presenter DisclosuresPresenter Disclosures

The following personal financial relationships with The following personal financial relationships with commercial interests relevant to this presentation commercial interests relevant to this presentation

existed during the past 12 months:existed during the past 12 months:

Alan R. Ellis, LCSW

No relationships to disclose

Key QuestionsKey Questions

What have we learned about the anatomy of the Male brain?

How does the anatomy of the Male brain correlate with Male behavior?

What are the implications of these findings on the

therapeutic encounter?

  

From The Male Brain

Brizendine, Louann MD, 2010

“Scientists think of brain areas like the TPJ, DPN, and PFC as being “hubs” of brain activation, sending electrical signals to other areas of the brain, causing behaviors to occur or not occur.”

2. TEMPORAL PARIETAL JUNCTION (TPJ): The solution seeker. During interpersonal emotional exchanges, it races toward a “fix-it-fast” solution.

3. DORSAL REMAMMILARY NUCLEUS (DPN): The “defend your turf” area

4. AMYGDALA: Alarm system for fear, threats, and danger

10. PREFRONTAL CORTEX (PFC):The CEO of the brain, an inhibiting system to put the brakes on impulses

“One lesson to women that I learned in writing this book is that understanding the biology of the Male Brain helps us relate better to the ‘male reality’…”

Male Profiling: Negative characterization and distortion of

normative male responses.

These responses are consistent with These responses are consistent with Male Brain development and are Male Brain development and are

adaptive, not pathologicaladaptive, not pathological

Gur, Raquel MD, et. Al.Gur, Raquel MD, et. Al.Are we wired differently?Are we wired differently?

Reframing Male Profiling

• Aggressive

• Predatory

• Impulsive

• Threatening

Pathological Normative

• Territorial

• Sexually focused

• Action-oriented

• Quick to Anger

Implications for PsychotherapyImplications for Psychotherapy

Normalization/Validation Normalization/Validation “ “If you weren’t angry, I’d think there would If you weren’t angry, I’d think there would

be something wrong with you!”be something wrong with you!”

Education and training for therapistsEducation and training for therapists

Education for family/partnerEducation for family/partner

Focus based on using male Focus based on using male proclivities (strengths?) and brain proclivities (strengths?) and brain anatomyanatomy

Complementary with CBT strategies Complementary with CBT strategies of reframing and cognitive distortionsof reframing and cognitive distortions

CONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONSCONCLUSIONS/RECOMMENDATIONS

Gender, age and stage of BOTH client and Gender, age and stage of BOTH client and service provider need to be considered for service provider need to be considered for treatmenttreatment

Program Development ImplicationsProgram Development Implications

Groups may be less threatening, reduce Groups may be less threatening, reduce shaming, and facilitate problem-solvingshaming, and facilitate problem-solving

Coaching as a more effective treatment model?Coaching as a more effective treatment model?

REFERENCES

Brizendine, Louann M.D. (2011). The Male Brain. New York, New York: Three Rivers Press.

Burt, Austin & Trivers, Robert (2006). Genes In Conflict: The Biology Of Selfish Genetic Elements. Cambridge, MA, London, England.

Ellison, Peter T. and Gray, Peter B. (2009). Endocrinology Of Social Relationships. Cambridge, MA and London, England: Harvard University Press.

James, Abigail Norfleet (2007) Teaching the Male Brain: How Boys Think, Feel and Learn In School. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press.

Tiger, Lionel (1969, 2007). Men in Groups. New Brunswick, NJ, London, England: Transaction Publishers.

Witelson, Sandra. Excerpt From Transcript of 2012 Male Studies Conference “The Science Of The Male.” New York Academy Of Medicine, October 25, 2012.