Psychosocial Well-Being and Mental Health of Young Men Participating in the Seduction Community (2 CE)

Number of Credits: 2

This course is for:  Clinical Psychologist, Counselors

Course By: Tracey Thomas, PsyD

Content By: Whitley, R., & Zhou, J. (2020). Clueless: An ethnographic study of young men who participate in the seduction community with a focus on their psychosocial well-being and mental health. PLoS One, 15(2): e0229719. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0229719

Course Description: The seduction community began in the last decade. The community consists of young men who are taught various techniques and mindsets by professional “pick up artists” to improve their ‘game’ and success with women. The researchers in the current study aim to document and understand the motivation of the young men participating in the community and the impact of this community through in-depth, qualitative interviews. The researchers found that the seduction community's men had numerous psychosocial deficits, and membership helped develop social and communication skills. The study benefits skilled professionals in understanding the underlying reasons the men participate in these groups.

Learning Objectives:

1. Identify two objectives of the study and the methods utilized to study young men in the seduction community
2. Analyze one table as it relates to the characteristics of the study’s participants
3. Analyze four themes the researchers identified for the reasons young men joined the seduction community
4. Analyze two of the results which could be applied to future research

Course Outline:

1. Read and understand the article, Clueless: An ethnographic study of young men who participate in the seduction community with a focus on their psychosocial well-being and mental health
2. Review the Course Description and Learning Objectives
3. Work through the post-test questions; the answers to the questions should be derived from the respective article
4. Review the article for further clarification, if needed
5. Return to the article for any missed questions and/or to understand the underlying factors for participating in a seduction community