The impact of masculinity upon men with psychosis who reside in secure forensic settings
| Date | 14 May 2018 |
| Published date | 14 May 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/JFP-05-2017-0014 |
| Pages | 69-80 |
| Author | Robert Searle,Dougal Hare,Bronwen Davies,Sara Louise Morgan |
| Subject Matter | Health & social care,Criminology & forensic psychology,Forensic practice,Sociology,Sociology of crime & law,Law enforcement/correctional,Public policy & environmental management,Policing,Criminal justice |
The impact of masculinity upon men
with psychosis who reside in secure
forensic settings
Robert Searle, Dougal Hare, Bronwen Davies and Sara Louise Morgan
Abstract
Purpose –Masculinity is a core cognitive structure that plays a central role in organising attitudinal and
behavioural processes. Yet there is limited research focussing upon the meaning of masculinity for men who
have a past history of violent behaviour, who experience psychotic phenomena and reside in secure forensic
settings. The paper aims to discuss these issues.
Design/methodology/approach –Q-methodology was used to elucidate the factors regarding how men
who experience psychotic phenomena perceive their masculinity. Ten participants from a secure forensic
setting performed a 49-statement Q-sort task.
Findings –Principal component factor analysis with varimax rotation was performed on the ten completed
Q-sorts which revealed a three-factor solution, accounting for 57 per cent of the variance in the data. The factors
were interpreted and discussed under the following headings: “assured and asserting maverick”,“calm,
confident, composed conformist”and “nurturing provider in the face of adversity”. This revealed that men with
psychosis have different, predominantly pro-social explanatory frameworks for their representation of masculinity.
Research limitations/implications –This study revealed that men with psychosis have different,
predominantly pro-social explanatory frameworks for their representation of masculinity. However, the study
was limited by its lack of longitudinal assessment and the inclusion of a greater number of participants may
have enhanced the representativeness and generalisability of the findings.
Practical implications –Therapeutic discussions in respect of masculinity itself could provide men with the
opportunity to develop newer, more adaptive conceptualisations of themselves, help them develop greater
self-awareness and understanding of the sources of their presenting concerns, which in turn could enhance a
provisional formulation of their difficulties. It would also be potentially valuable to understand how these
patterns of masculinity map onto coping, recovery style and service engagement. Furthermore, services
could also benefit from becoming more aware of hospitalisation being a shameful perhaps stigmatizing time
for men with psychosis.
Social implications –It may be useful for people working in healthcare settings to be aware of how the
service users they support perceive their masculinity, so the existential and deeper needs of male patients are
provided with enough consideration. This is an important point, as some individuals are often reluctant or
neglect to enquire about individual’s psychotic experiences and gender identification.
Originality/value –Although forensic psychiatric care is primarily populated by men who have committed
violent acts, there is a limited research focussing upon the meaning of masculinity in this context. This is in
spite of evidence which shows that maladaptive perceptions of masculinity can be reinforced during time
spent residing in secure settings. The cultural constructs of masculinity and their respective impact upon the
diagnosis, management and outcome of psychosis has also received little attention. Therefore, this research
represents new and significant contributions to the field.
Keywords Q-methodology, Forensic, Psychosis, Masculinity, Mental health, Violence
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
Research suggeststhat behaviours indicative of masculinity (qualities traditionally associated with
men) include engaging in risky activities(Pittman, 1990; Dolan, 2011; Creightonand Oliffe, 2010),
anti-effeminacy(Haldeman, 2006; Schwartzbergand Rosenberg, 1998),being sexually active and
Received 5 May 2017
Revised 26 June 2017
18 July 2017
Accepted 18 July 2017
Robert Searle is a Trainee
Clinical Psychologist and
Dougal Hare is a Reader in
Clinical Psychology, both at the
South Wales Doctoral
Programme in Clinical
Psychology, Cardiff University,
Cardiff, UK.
Bronwen Davies is a Clinical
Psychologist at Specialist
Behavioural Team and Caswell
Clinic, Glanrhyd Hospital,
Bridgend, UK.
Sara Louise Morgan is a Clinical
Psychologist at the Caswell
Clinic, Abertawe Bro
Morgannwg University Health
Board, Bridgend, UK.
DOI 10.1108/JFP-05-2017-0014 VOL. 20 NO. 2 2018, pp. 69-80, © Emerald Publishing Limited, ISSN 2050-8794
j
JOURNAL OF FORENSIC PRACTICE
j
PAG E 69
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