The gender socialization experiences of highly sensitive men.

Abstract

High sensory processing sensitivity is a genetic temperament trait inherited by up to 30% of the population. Individuals with the trait, called highly sensitive persons, possess distinctive temperamental characteristics including increased depth of cognitive processing, overarousability, increased empathy and emotional responsiveness, and sensitivity to subtleties. Many of the traits associated with high sensory processing sensitivity conflict with dominant hegemonic masculine ideology in the United States. Despite this evident contradiction, there has been no research into the gender socialization experiences of highly sensitive men. This study sought to develop a greater understanding of the masculine socialization experiences of highly sensitive men through the use of interpretive phenomenological analysis. Fourteen highly sensitive men aged 25-79, M = 47, participated in a series of three semistructured interviews that focused on (a) their experiences with gender socialization as a highly sensitive boy/man, (b) their present experiences with gender norms, and (c) the personal meaning of their identity as a highly sensitive man. Analysis indicated four themes from participants' experiences: (a) gender role conflict, (b) negative self-evaluation and mental health concerns, (c) sensitive intersection with race and ethnicity, (d) sensitive code-switching. These findings suggest that highly sensitive men may face unique difficulties in relation to traditional masculine socialization, which lead to various psychological concerns. Additionally, these findings imply that hegemonic masculine norms create an inherently unsupportive environment for highly sensitive boys and men and that sensory processing sensitivity should be taken into consideration by researchers and clinicians in understanding the intersectional experiences of men. Public Significance StatementHighly sensitive men reported unique challenges related to identity development and gender socialization, including gender role conflict, negative self-evaluation, mental health concerns, sensitive intersection with race and ethnicity, and sensitive code-switching. These findings imply that hegemonic masculine socialization in the United States creates an inherently unsupportive social environment for highly sensitive boys and men. In addition, findings suggest that high sensory processing sensitivity has a powerful impact on the developmental experiences of boys and men and that researchers, clinicians, and helping professionals should understand environmental sensitivity as a relevant piece of the intersectional identities of men.