Story perspectives

Threatening Masculinity Fails to Shift Men's Political Views

5/12/2026

Summary

Story summary

Researchers Claire Gothreau and Nicholas Haas replicated a 2013 experiment and found that threatening men’s masculinity did not alter political views.
Afterward participants reported on Iraq War support, gay-rights, SUV purchase, traditionalism, system justification and social dominance, showing no consistent shifts.
Gothreau will join Lebanon Valley College as an assistant professor in August 2026 to study the “masculinity gap” with NSF grant support.

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Story summary

Researchers Claire Gothreau and Nicholas Haas replicated a 2013 experiment and found that threatening men’s masculinity did not alter political views.
Afterward participants reported on Iraq War support, gay-rights, SUV purchase, traditionalism, system justification and social dominance, showing no consistent shifts.
Gothreau will join Lebanon Valley College as an assistant professor in August 2026 to study the “masculinity gap” with NSF grant support.