The manosphere has sparked widespread debate, but what’s really driving it? This article explores the psychological factors behind its appeal and how therapy can help.
Ever since his “Weird Weekends” documentaries endeared Louis Theroux to the nation, whenever he talks, we all listen – especially when it’s about a subject as fascinating as the so-called “manosphere” and why so many young men are drawn to it.
“Inside the Manosphere” is his latest Netflix documentary, building on the conversation that already rocked the nation last year after the release of “Adolescence,” an award-winning show that explored the effects of the manosphere on teenage boys.
His new documentary has sparked widespread discussion online, with everyone eager to chime in with their thoughts. But where does mental health fit into it? Because beneath all the headlines and well-deserved criticism, there’s a deeper question worth asking…
What’s the psychology behind the rise of the manosphere?
The manosphere is an online community of men who share websites and blogs that promote masculinity, misogyny and sometimes far-right political views. It includes several groups you’ve likely heard of, from incels (involuntary celibates) to men’s rights activists and even pick-up artists.
The fundamental view at the root of the manosphere is that feminism demonises masculinity and has made society biased against men. And any man who comes to this conclusion is praised for taking “the red pill” in order to see the truth, a metaphor inspired by The Matrix.
But the manosphere is more than just a facade of hyper-masculinity and anti-feminist rhetoric.
There’s an obsession with status and labelling men as either “alphas” or “betas” as influencers share tips on how to become “alphas,” usually defined as being physically fit, socially confident (often to the point of arrogance) and financially successful.
Those immersed in the manosphere range from mild believers to extreme devotees. While the more extreme members seem mostly intent on recruiting followers and spreading misogyny, some have gone on to commit heinous crimes motivated by the manosphere’s rhetoric.
Considering most of the discourse surrounding the manosphere is so negative, it seems surprising that it still holds such an appeal to some men, particularly teenage boys.
In fact, several studies have found that 80% of 16-17 year-old boys in the UK have seen content made by Andrew Tate, with 1 in 6 boys aged 6-15 years old having a positive opinion of him. Perhaps more shockingly, 1 in 3 Gen Z men believe a wife should obey her husband, and over 60% of men between 16 to 25 years old regularly engage with “masculinity influencers” online.
But why?
Much of what these influencers say strike a chord with teenage boys, putting things in a way that makes sense to them. And with so many videos like this online, it’s impossible to shield teenage boys from it completely.
As the number of manosphere followers increases, so too does our awareness of it (thanks to the likes of Adolescence and Louis Theroux), but why makes it so appealing to some men?
Amidst the chaos of our day-to-day lives, the ideas behind the manosphere offer certainty in an increasingly uncertain world, giving men tips on self-improvement and a sense of direction.
Andrew Tate is famously at the forefront of the manosphere, but despite how often he voices his misogynistic views, he actually talks about money much more often, chewing on overpriced cigars as he does. Tate makes it very clear that his only measure of success is money. There’s no subtlety as he brags about lounging on yachts, owning multiple cars, buying whatever he wants, and being different from all the other “losers” – albeit never showing footage of him doing any actual work.
“I don’t buy Ferraris to drive fast,” Tate shouts into a microphone. “It’s to show everyone else I’m richer than them.”
But despite his crass desperation to flaunt his garish wealth, the flashy shots of sports cars, exotic locales and beautiful women are the sorts of images that motivate young men in the same way as a classic James Bond film, only without a sense of class or chivalry.
Perhaps more bizarrely, you’ll also see videos of those like Andrew Tate walking about topless. This borderline obsession with fitness and a vain determination to flaunt their torsos at every opportunity is just another way to grab the attention of young men who naively assume this physicality is a guaranteed route to happiness and satisfaction with life.
This combination of flaunting wealth and fitness attracts a slew of vulnerable young men who secretly wish they too could drive swanky cars, afford luxurious lifestyles, and have a physique admired by all… but don’t know how to achieve it. Manosphere influencers take these ambitions and offer viewers a chance to become like them – but only if they follow a simple set of rules to the letter.
“Getting rich is the easiest way to achieve all the things you want to achieve.” – Andrew Tate
It’s naively optimistic, but promises like this have become lucrative opportunities for the horde of influencers cashing in on this niche. They make outlandish claims, promising their followers could become millionaires if they buy their “get rich quick” course. They make it seem easy to achieve your dreams, and unlike other role models, they offer a clear route to success: work out regularly, say what they say, do what they do, and get rich quick (apparently as easily as sitting in your room with a laptop and internet connection).
This premise is exceptionally appealing to teenage boys, especially ones without a direction in this uncertain world. As AI threatens to steal jobs, social media criticises young men, and degrees and internships lead nowhere, young men are desperately seeking a direction that takes them where they want to go. Misogyny isn’t their priority as they explore the periphery of the manosphere, but the promise of success and purpose acts as a gateway into the deeper realms where the real danger lies.
The traditional role of a man is to be a “provider,” an expectation to pay for everything their family could ever want. Sadly, this isn’t just unrealistic in today’s world, but for most people, it’s not even remotely possible.
But it’s an expectation that haunts many men: if you can’t provide for your family financially, are you really a man…?
It’s a sticking point for many young men, prompting them to become frustrated, worried and angry, especially toward any woman who might prefer dating rich men (ideally one who works in finance, has a trust fund, is six foot five and has blue eyes – a stereotype made particularly famous on TikTok).
These men assume their only route to happiness is to transform their identity in order to become a “real man”… but as they work on this transformation, they become bitter and resentful, driving many to argue against gender equality. They claim that feminism has “gone too far” and that men now have it harder than women.
Desperate to understand how to be seen as masculine in today’s world, many turn to the internet for guidance. Here, they find a brotherhood of sorts – a community in the manosphere where they finally feel understood and receive the support they feel they need.
It’s increasingly common for people to find understanding communities on the internet. After government cuts closed a staggering number of youth clubs, teenagers have turned elsewhere for connection. Sadly, social media can become all-consuming and lead these teenagers down a rabbithole, with as many as 30% of 18-23 year-olds admitting to not regularly seeing anyone outside of their household on an average week.
It’s not easy being young, whether you’re male or female. Life can be full of rejection, loneliness and feeling ignored… but what do you do if you don’t have a support system of friends or family to turn to?
One of the most common elements shared by the thousands of men in the manosphere is a dissatisfaction with their lives – a chronic unhappiness, caused by their self-esteem, love life, career or finances. Too embarrassed of being ridiculed if they open up to friends or family, they turn to the internet for validation. Here, they find manosphere influencers who draw them in, offering them understanding and the answers they’ve been looking for.
Interestingly, pain is encouraged in some corners of the manosphere, with Tate bragging that “legends have always been forged in fire” and “every man you can name from history was born from pain.” Happiness is for women and children; unhappiness is what drives men to become successful.
This talk of pain makes many men feel validated and heard, perhaps for the first time in their lives. With a firm belief that the manosphere can turn their pain into success, they follow their advice to the letter, only later looking for a group to blame for all the ills in their lives…
And once again, the manosphere claims to have the answers to that as well.
It’s overly simplistic to say that childhood trauma is the only thing that draws people into the manosphere… but it would be naive to ignore the patterns.
As Louis Theroux himself observed in his Netflix documentary, many influencers at the centre of the manosphere had difficult childhood experiences – instability, absent parents, a lack of role models, financial hardship, mental health struggles… That’s not to say every child exposed to these challenges end up in the manosphere, but it does show how traumatic experiences in childhood can create a vulnerability that lasts for years.
Growing up without stability, guidance or emotional support leaves people searching for answers and identity elsewhere. So when an online community comes along offering a sense of direction, a defined version of masculinity and a way to finally take control of your life, it feels like the solution they’ve been searching for all along.
Misogyny itself is nothing new, but its scale and accessibility today is.
For the first time in history, there are highly influential figures with openly hostile views towards women who have a direct line into the lives of impressionable, sometimes vulnerable young men often alone in their bedroom, doomscrolling through content designed to keep them hooked and engaged. And with limited regulation on social media platforms, these messages spread quickly.
The pattern is often the same. First, they draw people in with oversimplified answers: “Do this and your life will improve.” Then they shift the narrative; problems are no longer something to understand or work through – they’re something to blame on others: women, society, “the system.” From there, frustration becomes an anger that forms the basis of their new identity. Over time, this fundamentally distorts how people view women, relationships and even themselves.
While it’s fair to say that much of this begins online, it doesn’t stay there for long. Whether it’s in classrooms, workplaces or public areas, a world where women already feel at risk has become even more dangerous, populated by an increasing number of men radicalised to resent them and blame them for all their difficulties. Boys and young men exposed to these ideas start to objectify women, dismiss empathy or emotions as weaknesses, and cite the manosphere as a justification for disrespectful or controlling behaviour.
In more extreme cases, this eventually escalates to online harassment, real life stalking and even violence. For example, the tragic Isla Vista attacks in 2014 marked a bleak turning point, showing how leaving these beliefs unchecked can move from ideology into real-world harm. What were once merely unpleasant opinions online soon become real-world consequences that can even go on to infect governments and political parties who spout backward approaches to gender equality and seek to reverse the progress of the last few decades.
Extreme ideas get headlines, but they don’t get a loyal audience of followers on their own. What makes them powerful is how they meet the real emotional needs of those who are listening.
The manosphere offers vulnerable young men certainty in an uncertain world, validation for difficult experiences, a sense of identity, and a community they belong to. For someone who feels lost, rejected or misunderstood, these promises are incredibly compelling.
We shouldn’t criticise those looking for offering answers, validation or guidance to improve their lives – but we should stand up to the blame-focused and hostile answers that ultimately impact the lives of themselves and those around them.
If you hear your child or someone you care about start using terms like “red pill,” “incel,” “alpha” or even “looksmaxxing,” it may be worth paying closer attention to the kind of content they look at online. Seeking out and paying attention to the manosphere rarely appears in isolation and often reflects something deeper. You don’t need to panic (in fact, it’s best not to), but showing curiosity and being open to honest conversations can help you understand what they’re really going through.
The good news is that this concern can be addressed, and therapy is an effective way to give them the support they need.
Instead of offering oversimplified answers that reinforce blame, therapy offers these men healthier and more effective ways to improve their lives. When they feel rejected or isolated, therapy helps them develop emotional awareness, building self-worth and confidence to improve their relationships and communication skills. When they’re angry with the world, therapy helps them improve emotional regulation. When they struggle with who they are or where they belong in the world, therapy helps them form a stable sense of identity. When they suffer in silence, therapy helps them process their past and present experiences in a healthy way.
Therapy doesn’t promise instant transformation, but it does offer something far more valuable than the manosphere ever could – the tools you need to understand yourself and navigate the world without anger or resentment.
We might not be able to control what’s said online, but we can support the people trying to make sense of it.
By taking action against the manosphere and paying attention to the mental health and wellbeing of young men, we can help a generation become healthier and more stable with far more fulfilling lives.
If you’re worried about your child or someone you care about becoming trapped in the manosphere and are interested in therapy to help them, get in touch with us today.