The Tough Standard:

A Primer on the Psychology of Men and Masculinity

Presented by the Trauma SIG

Sunday, September 28, 2025

2 CE Contact Hours Approved

10:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Do these recent headlines look all too familiar?

“Father and Son Indicted on Murder Charges for Georgia School Shooting” 10/17/24 NY Times

“Masculinity overdue for a reckoning after mass shootings, child advocates say.”... 6/18/24, NBC News

Data has persistently shown the alarming prevalence of violence in this country perpetrated by men -including 98% of mass shootings and 95% of incidents of serious domestic abuse. Furthermore, data from our national election shows a significant increase in the number of young men openly declaring extremist, often pro-violence and retribution positions. 

This workshop will synthesize current peer-reviewed research as well as clinical developments and implications in the psychology of men and masculinities. Dr. Levant will highlight and address critical and pressing social issues, including the increasing rates of physical violence among men and boys, sexual violence and the role of masculinity, emotional awareness, and expressiveness; men’s physical and mental health related to notions of masculinity, as well as strategies for building a healthy male identity.

Program Objectives

Objective 1: Participants will list two major different ways masculinity is conceptualized.

Objective 2: Participants will describe the three ways that masculinity is problematic.

Objective 3: Participants will describe how males’ internalized standards for masculinity, when not met, or when a males’ sense of masculinity is threatened, can predispose boys and men to commit acts of physical violence.

Objective 4: Participants will identify at least two of the current norms of masculinity that predispose males towards committing acts of sexual violence, and the mechanisms of how those work.

Objective 5: Participants will describe how the socialization experiences of boys in which they are required to conform to the masculine norm of restrictive emotionality elevated the risk that they will grow up to be men who have difficulty, identifying and expressing their emotions and be able to identify at least 3 consequences, both for the men themselves and for their relationship with others.

Ronald F. Levant, EdD, ABPP, MBA, DHL (Hon)

 We are fortunate to have Dr. Ronald Levant, one of the nation’s leading experts on male psychology and masculinity, to help us explore these pressing issues.

Bio: Dr. Ronald F. Levant (he/him/his) is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at The University of Akron; Past President of the American Psychological Association (APA) and APA Division 51, the Society for the Psychological Study of Men and Masculinities; and two-term Editor of APA Division 51's quarterly journal, Psychology of Men & Masculinities. A feminist scholar with 18 books and countless refereed journal articles and book chapters to his credit, he is widely considered one of the key people responsible for creating the new field of the psychology of men and masculinities.

Costs for Participants

NYSPA Members: $30

NYSPA Trauma SIG Members: $20

NYSPA Student Members: Free

Non-NYSPA Members: $40

Non- Member Student: $10

CE Information:

Two (2) CE contact hours are approved for this program. If CE credit contact hours are approved, information regarding earning of CE credits will be sent out to all registered attendees at the conclusion of the event.  Please note that there is no additional fee for earning CE credits or receiving certificates.

The program organizer will present two CE Attendance Codes, the first at the beginning of the program and the second at the end of the program. To earn CE credit, attendees must correctly enter the two CE Attendance Codes in the post-event evaluation, which will be sent to all participants at the conclusion of the program.   Individuals arriving more than 15 minutes after the start of the program or leaving early are not eligible for CE credit.

The Foundation of the New York State Psychological Association, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #Psy-0066.

The Foundation of the New York State Psychological Association is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The Foundation of the New York State Psychological Association maintains responsibility for this program and its content.

Grievance Procedure:

View the full NYSPA Grievance Policy here. Grievances about any sessions at the Convention must be submitted in writing to the Foundation of the New York State Psychological Association, Inc., 685 Watervliet Shaker Road, Latham, NY 12110, Attn: Continuing Education Committee. Grievances can also be submitted directly to the CE Committee Chair, Mitchell Slutzky, in writing at nyspa@nyspa.org.

Cancellation & Photo Policy:

The New York State Psychological Association will accept refund requests made in writing no later than Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. ET. Registration fees are not refundable after this date.

By registering for this New York State Psychological Association event, I give consent for my photograph to be taken or presence recorded and possibly used on the organization’s intranet, internet, newsletters, board reports, and other organizational materials as needed. I understand that I am not eligible for compensation for use of my photo and I may not be informed in advance of the specific use of those images.