A gaming room, pool table, bar area, music studio, and a "No Women Allowed" sign are typical characteristics of a man cave. Psychologists have ruled out that some men build man caves since the woman typically designs the interior of a house. Apparently, it's much deeper than that.
To balance the structure and house decorations, some men need a space to express themselves. According to psychologist Sam Gosling, the author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You, it is essential to have one's own space that resonates with who you are.
A man cave shared with other guy friends is a space where his emotional needs can be met, which he may not find in different rooms or spaces in the rest of the house. It is critical, notes Gosling, that there should be no compromise as the man creates his "cave."
His personal space is the "architectural equivalent" to hanging out with friends. Moreover, men's thinking of wanting to buy a boat, tune-up a car, and drink with his buddies is a translation of him regulating his emotions explained Gosling.
Meeting a Man's Emotional Needs
The man cave is therapeutic, says the study "Mancaves and Masculinity," where researchers interviewed American suburban men. The mancave allows men to "display their unique identities, relax, and even reflect on their life goals," according to Dr. Mariam Beruchashvili.
The authors also noted the importance of men identifying themselves as fathers and husbands as they relax from the pressures of work and domestic life in their safe space. "Circumscribed by egalitarian ideology and the family ideal, male spaces also foster paternal and fraternal bonds instrumental for creating masculinity at home."
But can building a man cave go too far? Earlier in July, three men were discovered to have turned a storage room into a man cave beneath New York's Grand Central Terminal. The room was reported to have a futon couch, a flat-screen television, refrigerator with beer, and a microwave.
The three railroad employees were suspended without pay. They reported that they used to a secret room to hang out, party, and get drunk. The TV and couch were hidden in the wooden cabinets.
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Her Own Space
On the other hand, some women have created the female equivalent of a man cave, the "she shed." Instead of a garage and home theater, some she shed designs are outdoor sheds with a wine bar, bookshelf, and lots of greenery.
Like the man cave, it provides the busy working woman/mother an escape from life's stresses. Some she sheds are also a space to create art, maintain plants, and spend time with girlfriends.
More importantly, both man caves and she sheds give men and women space to be alone, which can be healthy for relationships. Several studies have proven that alone time is beneficial for mental health, creativity, and even intimacy. According to clinical psychologist Dr. Libby Watson, alone time can help reduce stress, improve self-understanding, and identify "triggers of stress and other harmful states."
Read Also: Defining Happiness in Positive Psychology
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