The precarious masculinity of firearm ownership

Borgogna, N. C., McDermott, R. C., & Brasil, K. M. (2022). The precarious masculinity of firearm ownership. Psychology of Men & Masculinities. Feb 2022. https://doi.org/10.1037/men0000386

Abstract: Men are more likely than women to harm themselves and others with firearms. Central to this problem is men’s interest in owning firearms. The precarious manhood paradigm (PMP; Vandello et al., 2008) suggests that masculinity is tenuous and must be outwardly displayed. We conducted a PMP-informed experiment to test whether threats to masculinity were associated with increased interest in owning firearms. Community participants in the United States (Men n = 388, Women n = 243) completed an online “marketing survey” and were then given false personality feedback profiles. All feedback was standardized with exception of the masculinity/femininity profile. Men were randomly assigned to a masculinity threat (masculinity reported as below average; MThreat, n = 131), boost (masculinity reported as above average; MBoost, n = 129), and control (masculinity reported as average; MControl, n = 128) conditions. Women were randomly assigned to a femininity threat (n = 84), boost (n = 87), and control (n = 72) conditions (conditions were identical except women received femininity threats/boosts). Participants were then asked about their interest in owning various firearms. MThreat participants reported significantly higher interest in owning every firearm shown compared to MControl participants, and significantly more interest than MBoost participants for half of the firearms. No differences in firearm interest were evident between MBoost and MControl conditions. No differences in firearm interest were evident across all conditions in the women sample. All participants were then debriefed. Results suggest men’s desire to own firearms maybe connected to masculine insecurities. Efforts should be made to socially defuse the masculinity-firearm connection. Further research implications and limitations are discussed.

Check also Precarious Manhood Beliefs in 62 Nations. Bosson, Jennifer K. et al. Accepted Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, Feb 2021. Final version Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, March 4, 2021. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2021/02/precarious-manhood-beliefs-in-62.html

And Women who earned more than their male partners—thereby making them feel insecure for being the "primary breadwinner"—were 2x as likely to fake orgasms than those who didn’t make more money than their partners:

Do Women Withhold Honest Sexual Communication When They Believe Their Partner’s Manhood is Threatened? Jessica A. Jordan et al. Social Psychological and Personality Science, January 31, 2022. https://www.bipartisanalliance.com/2022/02/women-who-earned-more-than-their-male.html