Striving to be: An existential perspective on men’s high drive for muscularity development and sustainment.

Edwards, Christian ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4170-6475, Tod, D. and Molnar, Gyozo ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1732-5672 (2025) Striving to be: An existential perspective on men’s high drive for muscularity development and sustainment. In: Perspectives in Body Image (PiBI) International Online Conference, 16th - 18th September 2025, Online Conference (ACE lab, University of Durham). (Unpublished)

Abstract

Background. Research on men with a high drive for muscularity (DFM) has sometimes interpreted the events individuals describe as associated with their muscularity-focused desires linearly, often marginalising the personal meanings and contextual factors influencing their drive. To extend knowledge, we explored men’s stories of their high DFM development through an existential psychological lens. Methods. Life-story interviews and multiple informal conversations were undertaken with sixteen men (Mean age=28, SD=6.14 years) scoring ≥ 3 on the Drive for Muscularity Scale. Data were interpreted through an existential-narrative analysis. Findings. In adolescence and young adulthood, participants’ stories centred on how they encountered boundary situations that forced them to confront their limited existence. They also described how cultural scripts shaped and constrained them, and how they conformed to such expectations by participating in traditional masculine-typed activities (e.g., sports). Adhering to cultural scripts helped them establish a sense of purpose which aided them in navigating various domains of their lives. Boundary situations, however, persisted and their limits continually resurfaced. For some participants, it was the death/illness of a parent that reinforced their fragility and the finitude of control they had over existence. For others, it was degrading interpersonal interactions (e.g., bullying) that prompted them to reflect on their circumstances, their embodiment, and the expectations of their world. The participants' understanding of their situation and their search for control led them to the gym; building muscle was these men’s embodied solution to cope with their circumstances. The continual threat of their limits resurfacing resulted in their ever-increasing DFM. Conclusion. The DFM served as an immortality project for these men, with their desires and behaviours helping them confront their limited existence. These findings extend the linear descriptions of men’s DFM by showing how these men interpreted their experiences and developed a drive for muscle to navigate their world.

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