Do males find it harder to admit to themselves that they want to be loved?

I wonder if this is the case, becaues it certainly is the case with me. When I am asked why I am with my partner, I draw a blank. I think it's because I can't admit to myself and others that I need/want the L word.

i for one do not..maybe because i am BPD could be a large part of it.
idk, i just know i need love like oxygen...it's necessary for survival it feels like.
i require a lot of attention as well & am not afraid to "act out" to get it!

i know i should control it & i have been doing ok as of late ( i have had some help..hee hee, but that's ok it's working for me!)

so i know i need love & want to be loved..i know i need a lot of attention & i am ok with that..i know i need a lot of affection & am ok with that.

i believe society tries to program us men to not show our feelings, to not express our needs..that somehow if we show emotion we are "weak".

so yes i would say "most" males probably do...but not this one!

I think they probably do. Perhaps less so in recent years, since gender roles are being shunned by so many newer parents these days, but when I was growing up males were still being taught they needed to be providers.

Not simply providers in terms of money, but providers in general.

We were taught to be gentler towards girls. That if a girl was crying, or in need of assistance, than we should see if we can help. If someone was in trouble, we were supposed to be brave and step in to defend them. In difficult times like the death of a loved one, we were supposed to provide support and be there for others. To be patient, and to be in control of our emotions.

The problem with being taught to be providers is that it doesn't teach how to accept. This results in men not wanting to ask for or accept help because it makes them feel like a failure. It makes them feel like if they need emotional support or break down than they aren't a man, because they were taught giving support was their job, and that learning to control their emotions was a part of 'becoming a man'.

So it would stand to reason that they find it harder to admit they want to be loved because they think they're supposed to be the one providing that love, not accepting it.

That "provider" upbringing would also make sense for why so many marriages lose their initial passion. If the guy only knows how to give, but not receive, than as time goes on he would begin to feel emotionally unfulfilled in the relationship. This wouldn't necessarily be due to any fault of his spouse, but rather due to the way he was brought up. Any attempt by his spouse to show love would fall flat, since the guy wouldn't know how to accept it. Once that emotional unfulfillment settles in, the guy throws himself completely into the provider role, since he thinks that's what he has to do in order to find fulfillment due to his upbringing telling him that's his role. This of course is totally the wrong move though, and he winds up ignoring his spouse so that he can throw all his efforts into ensuring his spouse is provided for. Long hours at work, little time at home, and too tired at home to ever do anything together.

At least that's how would interpret it as an observer who has never gotten involved in the whole dating/relationship part of life.

Nope, not at all. Dont' think it has anything to do with gender, whether someone feels they need to be loved or not is individual and not connected with gender. Has more to do with one's own ability to be in touch with their emotions, needs etc. and can quite easily be either female or male that is this way.

I JUST WANNA BE LOVED!!!

Lol. There's your answer, ...not this male. :P

In all seriousness ... some guys, yeah, I'd say so, definitely, but not all.