Introduction

Understanding why some individuals struggle with emotions delves into deep psychological themes such as Restrictive Emotionality. This concept encapsulates the challenge people face in expressing and articulating emotions due to internal restrictions and fears, which hinders their ability to convey even basic feelings. Research consistently links Gender Role Conflict to various issues like depression, substance abuse, and relationship complexities among men, cutting across sexual orientation and cultural backgrounds.

Charlie and Ginny

Charlie and Ginny were the epitome of an opposites-attract couple. Charlie, a warm-hearted guy, held an ingrained belief in the "guy code." He was raised in a household where emotions were seen as a sign of weakness. Growing up, he was taught that real men don't show vulnerability, that they tough things out.

Ginny, on the other hand, was emotionally open and expressive. She believed in sharing feelings, discussing issues, and working through problems together. She valued emotional connection and believed it was the cornerstone of a healthy relationship.

Initially, their differences were part of what drew them together. Charlie's quiet strength balanced Ginny's outgoing nature. But as their relationship deepened, the chasm between their emotional styles became more apparent.

When faced with challenges, Ginny would try to talk things through, seeking understanding and connection. She'd pour her heart out, hoping Charlie would reciprocate. Instead, he found the clarity of her feelings unnerving and he withdrew, protecting himself by calling her "needy."

Charlie adhering staunchly to the "guy code," and found it hard to express himself. He would retreat into his shell, believing he had to solve problems on his own. This left Ginny feeling shut out, unimportant, and at times, frustrated.

For Charlie, it wasn't that he didn't care; he just couldn't easily articulate his feelings. His upbringing had taught him that showing vulnerability was a sign of weakness, and he was committed to projecting strength.

As their relationship progressed, the strain of Charlie's emotional unavailability took a toll. Ginny felt disconnected and unsupported, while Charlie felt immense pressure to keep his feelings bottled up.

Their love for each other was unquestionable, but the disconnect caused by Charlie's adherence to the "guy code" put their relationship at risk.

A "boy code" as one that expects boys to:

  • display problem-solving skills,
  • strength, boldness and
  • achieve a high peer status.

These children are also expected to curb the expression of affection, and hide their vulnerability, or need for others. The code shames boys to an extreme position of self-containment, toughness, and separation.

This "boy code" morphs into a "guy code." Young men often struggle with overwhelming emotions as they grow up and face sadness, need, or desire. The guy code leaves them unprepared to experience and express these feelings. If they lacked loving fathers and brothers as role models, only the guy code is left to guide them.

Understanding Restrictive Emotionality

The impact of Gender Role Conflict, particularly Restrictive Emotionality, echoes profoundly within relationships. Men adhering strictly to societal norms often grapple with intense pressure and a profound sense of failure during relationship challenges. Studies underscore how individuals deeply entrenched in the “guy code” tend to react aggressively or angrily during conflicts with their partners, further perpetuating relational strains.

Emotional Fluency

At the core of this issue lies the pervasive influence of the “boy code,” embedding emotional restrictions to such an extent that it impedes emotional recognition and understanding within relationships. This lack of emotional fluency creates a profound struggle for emotionally unavailable men in intimate relationships. They face significant difficulties in meeting the relational expectations that a healthy partnership demands, particularly in expressing empathy, discussing feelings, and engaging in meaningful emotional connections.

Intimacy and the Guy Code

This predicament becomes glaringly evident after these men fall in love. Their socialization inadequately equips them to handle the stress of intimacy, causing them to withdraw precisely when they need to engage more openly and actively in the relationship. This emotional disconnect often hampers their ability to navigate the complexities of emotional intimacy, leading to further relationship struggles and a pervasive lack of fulfillment in their love lives.

It can look like this:

  • He wants you when it is convenient for him but cancels engagements.
  • He could not wait to be sexual with you. Now he looks at other women the same way.
  • He breaks dates to work longer hours or hang out with his friends.
  • He tells you, "I am bad at relationships," or "I am not the marrying type of guy." 
  • You cannot read him. His face seems devoid of expression.
  • When you ask him what he feels, he struggles to answer or dismisses the question.
  • He never considers your feelings. Moreover, when you complain, he protests that you are "too emotional."
  • He does not ask questions about what you may be thinking or feeling.
  • You feel like something is missing within him.
  • He seems distant and cold when you are emotionally upset with him.
  • He acts way too cool as if having feelings is an annoying but preventable fact of life.
  • He is defensive and gets angry quickly when you want to talk about "feelings."
  • He would rather be in pain than be vulnerable.
  • He is remarkably incurious about himself and you as well.
  • He wants attention, validation, and praise because his self-worth is always contingent on the approval of others.
  • He can be sarcastic and dismissive.
  • He prefers sexual intimacy to emotional intimacy.
  • When there are problems, he avoids you by working more, staying out, keeping secrets, and not wanting to face you.


When considering the impact of Restrictive Emotionality, it becomes apparent that emotional unavailability transcends mere behavioral patterns; it’s deeply entrenched within societal constructs. The struggle to express emotions freely and engage in meaningful emotional connections poses profound challenges, not only to individuals but also to the dynamics of their relationships.

Gender Role Conflict and Emotional Well-being

Moreover, studies have revealed a distressing association between GRC and its various manifestations, including emotional restrictions, depression, substance abuse, aggression, and intimate partner violence. This is not confined to specific cultural or racial demographics; rather, it spans across diverse backgrounds, signifying a pervasive issue embedded within societal norms.

Impact on Relationships: Unveiling Emotional Challenges

The ramifications of this emotional disconnect are profound, especially when individuals navigate the terrain of romantic relationships. Emotional unavailability often emerges as a significant hurdle in fostering intimacy and maintaining healthy bonds. It leads to an inability to communicate effectively, express empathy, or engage in open discussions about feelings, consequently resulting in strained connections and unfulfilling partnerships.

The Cognitive Impact: The Struggle to Recognize Emotions

For emotionally unavailable men, this becomes a critical juncture in their relational journey. The struggle to reconcile societal expectations with personal emotional needs poses a significant challenge. The "guy code" and its implications create a conflict between conforming to societal norms and fulfilling the emotional demands of intimate relationships.

The Paradox

In the realm of emotional intimacy, these individuals often face a paradoxical situation. While they yearn for emotional connection and intimacy, their learned behavior and societal conditioning inhibit their ability to express emotions openly and connect deeply with their partners. This creates a cycle of unmet emotional needs, fostering an environment of detachment and hindering the growth of healthy, emotionally fulfilling relationships.

The Cycle

The impact of emotional unavailability extends beyond individual experiences; it significantly influences relationship dynamics. The inability to navigate emotional intimacy affects communication patterns, leads to misunderstandings, and fosters an environment of emotional distance. This, in turn, perpetuates a cycle of relational dissatisfaction and emotional disconnect.

Challenging Societal Norms

Addressing emotional unavailability necessitates a holistic approach that challenges societal norms and fosters emotional literacy from an early age. It involves dismantling rigid gender expectations that hinder emotional expression and establishing avenues for open dialogue and emotional education. It’s about empowering individuals to embrace emotional vulnerability and fostering an environment that encourages genuine emotional connections and healthy relationship dynamics.

This transformative journey towards emotional availability requires concerted efforts in reshaping societal paradigms, fostering emotional literacy, and nurturing environments that validate and celebrate emotional expression. It calls for an inclusive approach that dismantles the "guy code," encourages emotional intelligence, and cultivates healthy relationship norms.

As we delve deeper into the intricacies of emotional unavailability, it becomes imperative to acknowledge that its resolution isn’t merely a personal endeavor but a societal transformation. It’s a collective journey towards redefining norms, fostering emotional literacy, and nurturing environments that embrace emotional vulnerability, fostering healthier relationships for all.

Closing Thoughts

The complexities of emotional availability and the impact of societal constructs on male emotional expression paint a vivid picture of the challenges faced by many in intimate relationships. Restrictive Emotionality casts a long shadow, dictating how emotions are perceived, expressed, and navigated, particularly among men adhering to the 'guy code.' 

This unwritten set of societal expectations fosters emotional detachment, crippling the capacity for authentic emotional connections. Studies have unraveled the intricate web linking Gender Role Conflict to emotional restrictions, depression, substance abuse, and relationship turmoil. The repercussions of restrictive emotional expression reverberate across relational, mental, and even familial spheres, seeping into the fabric of intimate connections and eroding the foundations of emotional intimacy.

Ready for a change in your relationship?

It starts with a no-obligation 15 minute phone call with our client services team.

Dr. Kathy McMahon


Dr. Kathy McMahon (Dr. K) is a clinical psychologist and sex therapist. She is also the founder and president of Couples Therapy Inc. Dr. K feels passionate about couples therapy and sex therapy and holds a deep respect towards those who invest in making their relationship better. She is currently conducting online and in person private couples retreats.

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  1. Im a emotionally detached man and i need help working through my past to figure out how i can get back to being more emotionally connected. I know that every time i start to work on myself my partner brings up a list of failures in my life that she is bothered with and then my emotionally detached person doesn't get worked on but the other things do and that is hard for me to deal with. So if you can please come into our relationship and help us fix me first before we open up to all the other failures that my girlfriend or soon to be fiance has with me that will be awesome because i believe if i am able to be less emotionally detached then most of the other things that my fiance has against me will go away. I am the problem and i need help working on me in a group setting with my fiance present.

  2. First, I think this article was well written and helpful to begin to help folks understand the issues that can come from this sort of cognitive dissonance. I am struggling, however, with how couples can move forward here. This seems to lack responsibility taking on the male’s part. The last paragraph, particularly was upsetting — to imply that women were never expected to conform to gender stereotypes is an unfair assumption. While no one explicitly says “be a woman”, there are messages about what women are supposed to do/be that are coupled with messages like “act like a lady”. We can attempt to get clients to have a better understanding of one another without putting so much emphasis on one-sided understanding.

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