Why hazing happens

Myth 2: Hazing is no more than foolish pranks that sometimes go awry. Fact : Hazing is an act of power and control over others it is victimization. Hazing is premeditated and NOT accidental. Hazing is abusive, degrading and often life-threatening. Myth 3: As long as there's no malicious intent, a little hazing should be O.

Fact: Even if there's no malicious "intent", safety may still be a factor in traditional hazing activities that are considered to be "all in good fun. Myth 4: Hazing is an effective way to teach respect and develop discipline. Victims of hazing rarely report having. Just like other forms of victimization, hazing breeds mistrust, apathy and alienation. Which raises the question, why would someone remain loyal to a "family" that beats and degrades them?

For that, you need to understand the psychological concept of cognitive dissonance. Humans are very good at rationalizing or ignoring two realities that are in direct conflict with each other. In terms of hazing, those two realities are the friendship and love of your "brothers" versus the demoralizing experience of being hazed by those very same people.

To reconcile those conflicting narratives, most individuals that are hazed "rewrite" or recast the traumatic hazing as a valuable bonding experience.

That helps explain why nine out of 10 college students who experienced one or more hazing rituals — including drinking games, yelling and name-calling, wearing demeaning clothing, being forced to exercise until they collapse — refused to recognize those experiences as hazing.

It also explains why 95 percent of hazed students failed to report the hazing. Among the explanations for not speaking out were answers like [source: Allan ]:. There are many other interesting theories around why hazing exists and persists, despite widespread agreement that it's dangerous. An important one is the psychological concept of "groupthink," in which members of highly cohesive groups suppress their own moral objections. What victims of groupthink don't understand is that many other group members have the same moral concerns, but if none of them speak up, the behavior continues.

A hazing survey at Cornell University found that 87 percent of students believe that "it's never OK to humiliate or intimidate new members. Sign up for our Newsletter!

Mobile Newsletter banner close. Toggle navigation Toggle search. What is Hazing? Please report any inappropriate behavior or concerns about activities. Hazing is often about power and control. Hazers have a need to feel powerful and in control. Individuals cannot consent to being hazed because hazing is illegal.