The Centerfold Syndrome: How Men Can Overcome Objectification and Achieve Intimacy with Women

by Gary R. Brooks

This candid analysis shows how boys are brought up to both depAnd on and yet fear the perceived power they think women hold over them and, most importantly, how this prevents true emotional intimacy between men and women. Learn from their inspiring and instructive stories.

Genres: Psychology, Self Help, Nonfiction, Sexuality

272 pages, Hardcover

First published August 15, 1995

Reviews

[figgy · Rating 3 out of 5]

as this was published in 1995, much of the information is outdated. but the insight isn’t! rest in peace gary brooks, you would have loved the slang term incel :)

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

In describing the "Centerfold Syndrome" Brooks names five components: voyeurism, objectification, a need for validation, "trophyism", and a fear of intimacy. I find his most helpful observations to be related to voyeurism and trophyism. Since my first reading of this book I've been able to see examples of each of these in real life settings an innumerable amount of times.

However, I think Brooks overstates the problem of objectification. This would seem symptomatic of his larger problem: an unrealistic and sterile ideal. Several times Brooks admits that physical attraction is natural. But in other places he seems to imply that attraction is indeed a problem. In one place (p. 28) he suggests that a proper attitude — one that has eliminated symptoms of the "Centerfold Syndrome" — is one in which a man has "completely exorcised all visceral reactions to physically attractive women"). In another place (p. 184) he implies that a man's reaction to a woman's beauty should be akin to a father's reaction to his teenage daughter — he may notice her physical beauty but neither has any visceral reaction toward her appearance nor experiences any arousal. This last example is particularly telling; it seems Brooks would counsel all men so that they have not only *no* visceral reaction to women's appearance, but that they should have no sexual attraction to them at all. Therefore, I think Brooks' prescription for relational health would eliminate all eroticism and physical desire in all but the thinnest sense.

The reader should also recognize how Brooks is using the term "Syndrome". He attributes none of the symptoms of this affliction to any biological causes; they are merely mental and behavioral phenomena which he has identified as related and problematic. He admits as much when he traces the roots to one's conditioning.

As such, we should not presume by the terminology that his "Centerfold Syndrome" has any clinical support. Furthermore, Brooks states that most men in our society are afflicted by this "Syndrome". One should wonder whether "syndrome" is an appropriate term for a wholly conditioned and nearly universal set of attitudes and behaviors.

Finally, as several reviewers at Amazon have said, Brooks offers little content in respect to overcoming the Syndrome. What *is* there is, for the most part, helpful even if it is directed toward basic relational maturity.

[Melanie Walker · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book and a must-read for men struggling with relationships, porn addiction, relating to women primarily through their bodies etc. and who would like to explore a more meaningful relationship with women. It's empathetic and understands the underlying causes of these things and offers solutions to try at the end. It's also great for women to learn empathy and seeing where men are coming from and understanding their struggles better.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting psychological look at how men objectify women and how that can get in the way of real relationships. He debunks some common misconceptions that the church tends to write about dealing with pornography. Worth the reading, if only for the case studies presented.

[Longfellow · Rating 3 out of 5]

I appreciate this conversation and can only say that I hope (fifteen years after this publication) for all our sakes, and admittedly mine in particular, it continues.

[Mama · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this shortly after I found out my hubby was a SA. Lots of this information was outdated, as the pornography business has exploded since the 1990s. I completely disagreed with some of the author’s depiction of Christian sexual perceptions and perspectives. However, I did find the descriptions of our society and the role of men’s sexuality thought-provoking. The case studies made the book much more interesting, some of the other parts were slow and not always well reasoned.
It had too much sexual descriptions for me to recommend this for any newly recovering SA.

[Lucas Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars. Can be dry at times but very informative!

[Clivemichael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some insightful perspectives and possible prescription for transformation of cultural expectations.