Department of Management
ORCID IDs
Sam T. Hunter https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2036-7681
Document Type
Article
Date of this Version
2025
Citation
American Psychologist (2025).
doi: 10.1037/amp0001525
Abstract
Violence among young men in the United States has escalated in recent years, leading to two contrasting perspectives of young men—either as (a) agentic aggressors or (b) by-products of societal shifts that have caused disadvantage. The first perspective characterizes men as entitled and reactionary, prone to aggression when their societal expectations are unmet. This view aligns with the frustration-aggression hypothesis in which unmet desires lead to hostile behaviors, particularly among individuals who perceive a loss of status and significance. Conversely, the second perspective views men as victims of rapid societal changes, such as job displacement, educational disparities, and shifting gender roles. This lens sees men as isolated and struggling to adapt to a new social landscape, leading to feelings of alienation and increased susceptibility to extremist ideologies. Social disconnection models, particularly those focused on ostracism, provide a framework for understanding these dynamics, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll of isolation. This article attempts to reconcile these contrasting views, providing an integrated perspective that can help clarify the phenomenon more fully and guide ongoing attempts to alleviate it.
Included in
Business Administration, Management, and Operations Commons, Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods Commons, Psychology Commons, Strategic Management Policy Commons
Comments
Copyright © 2025 American Psychological Association. Used by permission.