Hazing: creating unhealthy bonds
KRISTINA BOUTSELIS
Issue date: 12/2/04 Section: News
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Illegal hazing by Greek organizations is often dismissed as harmless fun, but it may have deeper psychological roots, according to two Keene State College psychologists.
Some people may wonder why hazing is so necessary to become accepted into a particular group such as a Greek organization or a sports team. There are two areas of research in psychology that are relevant, which are affiliation and diffusion of responsibility, Lawrence Welkowitz, KSC psychology professor, said.
Affiliation demonstrates that individuals who undergo ordeals to gain membership to a club end up identifying more with that "exclusive club." College students who have experienced an array of punishing events, including verbal abuse, watching others being excluded and even receiving electro shock, identify more with their new group, Welkowitz said.
Diffusion of responsibility demonstrates that when groups of individuals observe horrible events there is often a kind of "diffusion" of peoples' sense that they should intervene or do something about it. This explains why many people don't do anything when they see someone being attacked on the street because they think "someone else can do something about it".
What is disturbing about fraternities is how a kind of "group think" takes hold. "Racist and sexist remarks go unchallenged and a culture of substance use and alienation from academics becomes pervasive," Welkowitz said.
It's time for the academic community, including students, faculty and staff, to take a stand and do what other colleges in New England such as Middlebury, Bowdoin and Dartmouth have done: eliminate fraternities, said Welkowitz.
Cognitive entrapment may also be a cause for hazing. It is the gradual addition of costs to an individual. Fraternities are similar to cults in this way, psychology professor Gary Bonitatibus, said. Cults begin with small requests such as attending a one time specific event. Then the cult begins to gradually ask for larger requests such as weekend retreats.
Some people may wonder why hazing is so necessary to become accepted into a particular group such as a Greek organization or a sports team. There are two areas of research in psychology that are relevant, which are affiliation and diffusion of responsibility, Lawrence Welkowitz, KSC psychology professor, said.
Affiliation demonstrates that individuals who undergo ordeals to gain membership to a club end up identifying more with that "exclusive club." College students who have experienced an array of punishing events, including verbal abuse, watching others being excluded and even receiving electro shock, identify more with their new group, Welkowitz said.
Diffusion of responsibility demonstrates that when groups of individuals observe horrible events there is often a kind of "diffusion" of peoples' sense that they should intervene or do something about it. This explains why many people don't do anything when they see someone being attacked on the street because they think "someone else can do something about it".
What is disturbing about fraternities is how a kind of "group think" takes hold. "Racist and sexist remarks go unchallenged and a culture of substance use and alienation from academics becomes pervasive," Welkowitz said.
It's time for the academic community, including students, faculty and staff, to take a stand and do what other colleges in New England such as Middlebury, Bowdoin and Dartmouth have done: eliminate fraternities, said Welkowitz.
Cognitive entrapment may also be a cause for hazing. It is the gradual addition of costs to an individual. Fraternities are similar to cults in this way, psychology professor Gary Bonitatibus, said. Cults begin with small requests such as attending a one time specific event. Then the cult begins to gradually ask for larger requests such as weekend retreats.
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