Precarious Manhood and Its Links to Action and Aggression
Abstract
Unlike womanhood, manhood is widely viewed as a status that is elusive (it must be earned) and tenuous (it must be demonstrated repeatedly through actions). This focus on the structure—rather than the content—of gender roles can shed new light on men’s use of action and physical aggression. Here, we review theory and research connecting manhood, action, and aggression. We interpret men’s aggression and aggressive displays as behaviors that effectively demonstrate manhood and thus quell men’s concerns about their gender status. Moreover, we suggest that situational and cultural factors that heighten the precariousness of manhood also increase the likelihood of male aggression.
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Masculinity, and being a "real man," is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others.
“According to the theory of precarious manhood, masculinity, and being a “real man,” is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others (Bosson & Vandello, 2011; Bosson et al., 2021;Vandello et al., 2008).”
From A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns (2025) · cites this paper as Bosson & Vandello, 2011
Cites
Sexual strategies theory: an evolutionary perspective on human mating
Buss, D. M., & Schmitt, D. P. (1993) · Psychological Review · doi:10.1037/0033-295x.100.2.204 · Cited by 4,253 · see citing works
Anderson, C. A., & Bushman, B. J. (2002) · Annual Review of Psychology · doi:10.1146/annurev.psych.53.100901.135231 · Cited by 3,915 · see citing works
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Byrnes, J. P., Miller, D. C., & Schafer, W. D. (1999) · Psychological Bulletin · doi:10.1037/0033-2909.125.3.367 · Cited by 3,723 · see citing works
Precarious Manhood and Displays of Physical Aggression
Bosson, J. K., Vandello, J. A., Burnaford, R. M., Weaver, J. R., & Arzu Wasti, S. (2009) · Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin · doi:10.1177/0146167208331161 · Cited by 493 · see citing works
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Hard won and easily lost: a review and synthesis of theory and research on precarious manhood
Vandello, J. A., & Bosson, J. K. (2013) · Psychology of Men & Masculinity · doi:10.1037/a0029826 · Cited by 871 · see citing works
Self-citationBoucher, K. L., Fuesting, M. A., Diekman, A. B., & Murphy, M. C. (2017) · Frontiers in Psychology · doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00901 · Cited by 140 · see citing works
A Sexist Language? Gender Differences in Attitudes and Use of Gender-Inclusive Pronouns
Remsö, A., Bäck, H., & Renström, E. A. (2025) · Journal of Language and Social Psychology · doi:10.1177/0261927x251335305 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
“According to the theory of precarious manhood , masculinity, and being a “ real man, ” is not an inherent trait but a socially constructed status that must be continuously proven and validated by others (Bosson & Vandello, 2011; Bosson et al., 2021;Vandello et al., 2008).”
- Authors
- Bosson, J. K., & Vandello, J. A.
- Affiliations
- University of South Florida (US)
- Corresponding author
- Vandello, Joseph A.
- Venue
- Current Directions in Psychological Science
- Publisher
- SAGE Publications
- Published
- 2011-04
- Volume
- 20
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 82-86
- ISSN
- 0963-7214 (ISSN-L)
- 1467-8721
- OpenAlex
- W2105576198
- Cited by
- 311
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 26 · 2024: 32 · 2023: 24 · 2022: 28 · 2021: 25 · 2020: 26 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 18 · 2017: 16 · 2016: 20 · 2015: 18 · 2014: 8 · 2013: 9 · 2012: 8
- FWCI
- 21.30
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Current Directions in Psychological Science (publishedVersion)
- Digital Commons - University of South Florida (University of South Florida) (submittedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Gender Studies › Gender Roles and Identity Studies
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Social Psychology › Bullying, Victimization, and Aggression
- Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior
- Keywords
- manhood, gender roles, male aggression, physical aggression, gender status, masculinity, aggressive displays, situational factors, cultural factors
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