When the APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity were first released, many expected them to be a long-overdue step toward understanding and helping men. After all, men face their own unique mental health challenges—ranging from depression and fatherhood pressures to isolation and suicidal thoughts. But instead of finding a resource rooted in empathy and science, many professionals and everyday men were stunned to see something quite different: a set of guidelines that felt more like an ideological manifesto than a clinical guide.
This reaction is from a psychologist who completed the APA’s online course on the guidelines. What he found was concerning, and his critique sheds light on why these guidelines may do more harm than good. Let’s break it down in plain terms.
Psychologist Shawn T. Smith courageously takes on the guidelines of the American Psychological Association (APA) where masculinity is described as “harmful”.
A Mockery of Masculinity?
Right from the start, the video sets the tone. The speaker shares his certificate from the APA course—but not to celebrate. Instead, he frames it as a sarcastic trophy for surviving an experience that felt less about psychology and more about political indoctrination. That might sound dramatic, but as he dives into the APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity, it becomes clear why he’s frustrated.
The APA Monitor article that introduced these guidelines opens with some harsh generalizations. Men, it says, are violent, overly privileged, and dominant. The core idea? That traditional masculinity—defined by traits like stoicism, competitiveness, and aggression—is harmful.
That’s a loaded claim. And for men who see those traits as part of how they provide, protect, and persevere for their families, it can feel like a slap in the face.
Traits or Threats?
Here’s the key issue: the APA isn’t just saying some male behaviors can be destructive. They’re labeling an entire way of being—a deeply rooted set of traits that many men identify with—as harmful on the whole.
Of course, any trait can become a problem when taken to the extreme. But traits like competitiveness or stoicism also help men succeed in tough environments. They’ve helped build homes, defend families, and keep communities safe. Dismissing them outright doesn’t just ignore that—it insults it.
This is where the speaker draws a clear line: APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity are not grounded in balanced psychology. They’re shaped by an anti-male ideological lens.
Fatherhood and Fairness—A Tiny Step Forward
To be fair, the guidelines do mention the value of fathers and acknowledge that men can be victims of domestic violence. But even here, the speaker notices a problem.
When the APA talks about men as perpetrators, they cite detailed statistics. But when discussing women’s aggression toward men? Silence. The Centers for Disease Control has data showing that women are often more psychologically aggressive than men in relationships, and are frequently violent too. But those numbers didn’t make it into the guidelines.
Why not? Because, according to the speaker, they conflict with the ideological message the APA wants to push.
The Duluth Model and Feminist Dogma
The video also calls out the APA’s reliance on the Duluth model, a framework for addressing domestic violence created decades ago by feminist activists—not based on clinical data or scientific research. The Duluth model sees domestic violence strictly as a tool men use to control women.
That might be true in some cases, but it ignores the many situations where abuse goes both ways or where women are the aggressors. Real psychology should seek truth, not conform to a one-sided narrative.
By adopting this outdated, ideological model, the APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity risk reducing men to villains, even in situations where they are the ones suffering.
Three Reasons the APA Got It Wrong
This psychologist offers three core reasons why he refuses to follow these guidelines in his practice:
It’s unethical and dishonest.
Clients come to therapy looking for help—not to be lectured about privilege or told they’re part of the problem.It tries to reshape human nature.
Masculinity is not a disease. It’s not something to be cured. The idea that we can—or should—re-educate men to be less masculine is a dangerous double standard, especially when the APA rejects conversion therapy for sexual orientation but seems to endorse it for masculinity.It preys on vulnerable people.
Using someone’s pain as an opportunity to push a political agenda is, in his words, “creepy as hell.” Therapy should be about healing, not indoctrination.
What About Suicidal Men?
One of the most powerful points in the video comes when the speaker talks about suicide. He imagines a suicidal man coming into his office and being told, “Your problem is you’re too privileged.”
That is not helpful. It’s harmful.
Many men feel overwhelmed and powerless. They don’t need to be “taken down a peg.” They need tools, compassion, and support. The APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity do not seem to offer that.
A Message to Real Clinicians
This video isn’t just a takedown of the A.PA. It’s a call to action for therapists and psychologists who work with men every day. There’s a big difference between the policymakers sitting in conference rooms and the clinicians sitting across from men who are grieving, struggling, or breaking down.
If you’re a mental health provider, the speaker urges you to vet your own practice. Ask yourself: Do I really believe masculinity is toxic? If not, don’t let these guidelines shape how you treat your male clients.
And if you’re a man looking for a therapist, he suggests asking them directly:
Do you think masculinity is a problem?
If the answer is anything other than a clear and confident “No,” find someone else.
Final Thoughts
The APA Guidelines on Men and Masculinity were supposed to help. But instead, they’ve deepened the distrust many men already feel toward the field of psychology. This reaction video isn’t just criticism. It’s a warning.
If we want men to feel safe seeking help, we need to stop demonizing the very traits that define them. We need to listen to their pain, not tell them they’re privileged. We need to restore trust in psychology, not tear it down with ideology.
Masculinity is not toxic. What’s toxic is pretending that it is.