Study Shows How and Why Hazing Works

Study Shows How and Why Hazing Works

Fraternities, sororities, gangs, cults, military units and athletic teams often make headlines with reports of hazing. Yet, despite all the negative publicity and harm associated with hazing, many of those organizations continue hazing new members.

"Organizations use hazing because induction-begets-devotion," says Caroline F. Keating, professor of psychology at Colgate University in Hamilton, NY. Keating researches hazing and group influence. In addition, she has completed research examining the effects of hazing and who is more susceptible to it.

While charismatic religious and political cults provide stunning illustrations of the induction-begets-devotion phenomena, it also characterizes the initiation or "hazing" practices of Greek-letter organizations, gangs, militia groups, tribal societies, athletic teams, and some self- help organizations such as Alcoholics Anonymous and mass-marathon psychology groups, says Keating.

"Severe treatment of initiates seems to enhance their commitment to the group," says Keating. "A remarkable array of social organizations greet potential new members with induction procedures designed to degrade, embarrass, or distress them. Yet these terrible receptions appear to attract individuals who become steadfast members of highly cohesive and intensely loyal groups."

Keating notes that people who endure discomforting inductions often engage in "effort justification." In other words, the more discomfort endured, the more inflated opinions of the group became. For example, a pledge could come to believe that initiation practices were not really bad or could exaggerate the positive characteristics of the group, thereby justifying continued participation in the initiation.

Her study shows the harsher the hazing, the more attractive and competent group members seem to the initiates and the more initiates conform to the group.

In addition, Keating notes that hazing doesn't effect all men the same.

Highly publicly self-conscious men who express little private self-concern are least susceptible to conformity pressures, says Keating. In addition, these people typically find group members less easy to be with and their experiences more embarrassing than men expressing little public self-awareness.

Editors: Keating's study, "A Laboratory Study of Hazing, Self-Consciousness, and Group Influence" Does Induction Beget Devotion?" is being submitted to a professional journal. I would be happy to send you a copy once it has been accepted for publication. If you would like a copy of the draft, contact her at is 315-824-7355 (office). Please contact Steve Infanti of Dick Jones Communications at 814-867-1963 if you need any assistance. Dick Jones Communications helps Colgate University with some of its public affairs work.