Hysterical Men: The Hidden History of Male Nervous Illness

by Mark S. Micale

Over the course of several centuries, Western masculinity has successfully established itself as the voice of reason, knowledge, and sanity--the basis for patriarchal rule--in the face of massive testimony to the contrary. Hysterical Men boldly challenges this triumphant vision of the stable and secure male by examining the central role played by modern science and medicine in constructing and sustaining it.

Mark Micale reveals the...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0674031660
• ISBN13: 9780674031661
• Release Date: November 2008
• Publisher: Harvard University Press
• Length: 384 Pages
• Weight: 1.80 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.2" x 5.8" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

Ignorance provokes Violence

In choosing to follow the 1880's advice of the psychologist/psychiatrist who advised to leave hysteria to women, society has ignored the most obvious and lethal problem known to human society - the potential for violence as a backlash of dismissing anxiety in men. Whether it has been studied sufficiently to produce the inevitable outcome of such a study to show that ignored or misplaced anxiety becomes the violence that men produce is doubtful. The preference for force as a substitute for anxiety-repression in men has not worked and will not work because of the inevitable backlash of resentment and consternation of mean recognizing how poorly they are treated in this manner by employers, spouses, and law enforcement. Expectations of male stoicism is the cause but not the cure, and men unable to reconcile these devisive emotional imprints are destined to fall victim to mental illness, further violence, and social conflicts they are unable to resolve emotionally - causing a disastrous trail of victims and failing effects, compromising their own human potential in the process. Men have long taken care of men's physical bodies, and have all but ignored their mental and emotional parts. Excuses are inadequate recognizing the harm to mankind and the cost to society.

Eye Opening Commentary on Psychology and Gender

This book is a very enjoyable read, and far beyond what I expected from the editorial reviews. Micale gives a history of "hysteria" starting with the Greeks and ending with Freud. Micale sheds light on the issue of gender issues in psychology's history, and also looks at the interplay between objectivity and subjectivity in psychological science. I highly recommend this book.