Why are some men so problematic—unable to describe how they feel, neglecting their health, exploding in rage, and resorting to violence when their manhood is questioned?
An internationally recognised psychologist and past president of the American Psychological Association, Dr. Ronald F. Levant, has devoted most of his professional career to finding the answer. He led the creation and development of the field of psychology, which was dedicated to studying men and masculinity.
In his memoir, The Problem with Men: Insights on Overcoming a Traumatic Childhood from a World-Renowned Psychologist (Koehler Books), Dr. Levant reveals how his work has been driven by his quest to understand men like his abusive father and his perplexing behaviour.
He also shares his personal story—starting with a childhood marked by beatings and fear, followed by an adolescence defined by drinking and delinquent behaviour, and a young adulthood marred by depression—to inspire and guide other trauma survivors, especially fathers and sons, as well as the women who love and suffer with them.
Levant is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Akron and past President of the American Psychological Association. Ranked among the top 2 percent of scientists in the world by the Elsevier-Stanford University database, he is one of the key professionals responsible for creating a whole new field of psychology—the psychology of men and masculinity.
He earned his doctorate in Clinical Psychology and Public Practice from Harvard University and has served on the faculties of Boston University, where he directed the nationally prominent Father Project, Rutgers University, Harvard Medical School at The Cambridge Hospital, and the Center for Psychological Studies, Nova Southeastern University.
Dr. Levant has developed 21 psychological scales and measures, including the Male Role Norms Inventory, and published more than 300 peer-reviewed studies and 20 books—one earning the William James Book Award from the American Psychological Association. The proud father of a daughter, Caren, and a doting grandfather to her two sons, he lives in Ohio with his wife, Carol.
The Problem with Men: Insights on Overcoming a Traumatic Childhood from a World-Renowned Psychologist, Koehler Books; September 2024; Hardcover; ISBN: 979-8-88824-432-6
