138. The Absent Father Wound w/ Dr. Warren Farrell

"Historically speaking, when we heard criticism, it was from a potential enemy, so it was biologically natural to get up our defenses.That was really functional for survival. It's just dysfunctional for love”.- Dr. Warren Farrell

Today on Men, This Way:

• 00:00 Introduction of Dr. Warren Farrell
• 00:50 Dr. Farrell's background and contribution to understanding modern men's struggles.
• 01:28 Dr. Farrell's reception and personal experience in the field.
• 03:49 Discussing the role of criticism in personal and relational development.
• 04:18 The impact of workshops on handling criticism and personal growth.
• 05:23 Importance of non-defensive communication in relationships.
• 06:07 Defensiveness and its effects on relationship dynamics.
• 07:16 Discussion on defensiveness and its ubiquity across different types of relationships.
• 07:48 Gender dynamics in criticism and defensiveness.
• 10:08 Exploration of gender dynamics, respect, and protection in relationships.
• 10:45 Link between boy crisis and absence of father figures
• 12:08 Comprehensive discussion on the causes and effects of the boy crisis.
• 14:46 Role of communication in relationships and its impact on children.
• 16:00 Detailed statistics on the boy crisis and its societal implications.
• 18:33 Connection between dad deprivation and various social issues.
• 20:00 Broader implications of declining male societal contributions.
• 22:38 Dr. Farrell's shift from feminism to focusing on boys' and men's issues.
• 29:22 Personal reflections on fatherhood and its impact on personal success.
• 34:27 Comprehensive discussion on dad deprivation and its various forms.
• 37:39 The importance of dad-style parenting and its specific strategies.
• 41:55 Discussion on the importance of balanced parenting and its challenges.
• 47:33 Discussion on boundary setting and enforcement in parenting.
• 50:22 The evolving role of fathers in modern family units.
• 53:29 Challenges and strategies for checks and balance parenting
• 58:16 Strategies for single parents to incorporate balanced parenting styles.
• 01:01:12 Closing thoughts on the importance of father figures and balanced parenting.

Takeaways from this episode:

• The shift from traditional roles towards a deeper, more emotionally connected partnership. 
• The societal and psychological challenges men encounter today.
• How to overcome defensiveness to maintain healthy relationships.
• Different impacts of "dad-style" and "mom-style" parenting.
• The role fathers play in the psychological development of children, especially boys. 
• Societal issues like the "boy crisis," which includes higher suicide rates among boys and young men.

Connect with Dr. Farrell:

• Website: warrenfarrell.com 
• Order: The Boy Crisis & The Role Mate to Soul Mate
• Resources: Warren Farrell’s Resources 
• Twitter: @drwarrenfarrell

Connect with Bryan & Tait:

• Website: bryanreeves.com 
• Instagram: @bryanreevesinsight / @taitarend08
• Email: bryan@menthisway.com / tait@menthisway.com