Bruce Dougherty argues men are wired to protect and provide, which makes them stoic and withdrawn. This evolutionary drive, reinforced in childhood, explains why men stay silent rather than express vulnerability.
This is why men are still driven to withdraw and go numb, because they can't be weak or bad things might happen. They need to stay protective, and sometimes they need to be ready to turn aggressive. A man's primal drive has always been to protect and provide. To do that, he needs strength, he needs courage and endurance. His value for generations has been measured by how steady he stays under pressure. That wiring doesn't vanish just because modern society says men should open up more. His nervous system still carries the instinct to stay strong, stay silent, and shield his family from harm. So that's the evolutionary side, but then comes childhood.
