The symptoms of erectile dysfunction (ED) pose a threat to physiological and psychological well-being, making it important that men feel comfortable seeking ED medication. Unfortunately, some men feel a sense of emasculation and shame in seeking medical help for their symptoms. The current research investigated how men in cultures of honor, who place strong emphasis on their masculine reputation and their virility, might be particularly hesitant to seek medication for ED symptoms due to the masculinity threat posed by such help-seeking. Across three studies, we found that young, honor-endorsing men held higher levels of stigma in regard to seeking ED medication (Study 1), that older men showed a decreased likelihood to seek ED medication, and that the link between honor endorsement and intention to use ED medication was explained by the emasculating stigma of ED help-seeking (Study 2). Finally, we found that honor-endorsing regions had significantly lower levels of ED prescription fills than nonhonor regions (Study 3). Findings suggest that honor-endorsing men are not willing to seek medication for ED symptoms due to the threat to masculinity that help-seeking poses. This phenomenon thus increases the likelihood that older, honor-endorsing men experience the psychological detriments associated with ED.

Identifying strongly with the nation could entail a willingness to criticize the country or a refusal to do so. The studies reported here examine the extent to which masculine honor inspires the latter and, in turn, motivates teaching allegiance to youth in a manner that could discourage national criticism. Whereas Study 1 provides an initial test of this idea by evaluating blind patriotism's ability to mediate the link between honor endorsement and general support for allegiance education (e.g., singing the National Anthem at school functions), Studies 2 and 3 do so more decisively by focusing on more severe outcomes such as punishing students who refuse to pledge loyalty to the United States. The predicted pattern of mediation occurred in every case, even when honor endorsers were experimentally induced to feel anger toward the country (Study 3). Explanations for this latter finding are discussed and include the role of identity fusion in honor endorsers’ commitment to the nation and the potential for real and enduring governmental threats to weaken or eliminate the pattern of mediation observed.

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