While shame is not exclusive to men I posit that it is more likely to be present in men.
First, their reputation for not talking is well known.
Sports and films are the only allowed topics.
To be vulnerable is to be weak!
Is there a better way to brew shame than by suppressing the negative emotions?
Secondly perfectionism is rampant in today’s world.
Social media profiles are carefully filtered to only show the best moments.
YouTube is filled with highlight reels and GOAT tributes.
Celebrities and their PR teams work hard, and do a great job, at appearing flawless.
The positivity and self help genre has sold the bestseller that you can have it all in life.
So it’s natural to believe perfectionism is possible.
Therefore when dating, some men are striving for models who are amazing looking while super down to earth and up for entertaining all your wildest dreams.
Then when they are confronted with the reality that no perfect woman exists instead of accepting this, those prone to shame will secretly try to have their cake and eat it too in the form of affairs and/or porn consumption.
That’s why Beyonce, Hillary Clinton, and Emily Ratajkowski get cheated on.
While women on the other hand don’t seem to be as likely to consume porn or have affairs.
Women for some reason or other seem more ready to accept the flawed partner and be content with them.
Well there you go that’s my best guess at why men are more likely than women to be at the centre of a scandal. And I’m no psychologist so by all means dismiss my theory.
Thomas Duggan 