ABSTRACT
We began this book by stating that an accurate conceptualization of a problem is a necessary precondition to solving that problem. Part I is our proposed conceptualization. We have shown that masculine depression can be disguised by a variety of destructive and inappropri ate behaviors, and that therefore it is often unrecognized, undiagnosed, untreated, and misunderstood. We have sought to present a model of masculine depression that neither victimizes nor pathologizes men, but instead provides an understanding from which men can begin to un dertake the process of healthy change. An accurate understanding of the pain behind the mask can lead to effective interventions that ad dress not only the symptoms of masculine depression, but also the underlying problems that cause those symptoms.
