At a minimum, most men believe they should have been capable of preventing their victimization and they are inclined to interpret any failure to stop their abuse as implying complicity. This attitude frequently persists for males no matter how young they were when their abuse occurred. When males do seek treatment to resolve the wounds from their abuse, a considerable amount of time and energy will no doubt be focused on unraveling the impact of the socialization process. Defining the typical messages that males receive during their socialization experiences may help to clarify some of the issues that may arise for a male survivor as he engages in the process of his treatment and recovery. Following is an elaboration of the significant socialization messages that men receive as they are socialized to be traditional masculine males within our culture.
Males are aggressive by birth.
Some males may respond to feelings of vulnerability by exhibiting increased aggression. Perceived vulnerability pushes many males into isolation, as a strategy for self- protection. Therefore, some men will gravitate toward isolation to maintain an image of control. Therefore, therapists and friends of the male survivor must be aware that what you see is not always what you have. As a result of existing socialization patterns, males learn to think their way through their life.