Male Alienation at the Crossroads of Identity, Culture and Cyberspace was my third book. It explores the topics of masculine self-concept and self-sabotaging behaviors many boys and young men believe are there only choices, like isolating and not showing feelings.

Other problematic behaviors can include substance abuse, displays of aggression, and destructive acts. The motivations are often a mystery to the boys who behave like this. Dreams can sometimes provide clues for decoding the mysteries.

I was especially interested in the time that boys spend on their screens. On average, about 8 hours per day (with more as a boy gets older). Videogames can be a playful outlet. Many are set in apocalyptic landscapes where there is a fight for survival. A person can play at being a hero. But boys are often consumed with destructive energies during such play and can find it difficult to calm themselves down.

Available at Routledge.