Hazing Prevention in High School and College
Hazing Alternatives
~ What is the supposed function of hazing?
Objectives
~ Define hazing
~ Explore the purpose of hazing
~ Identify alternatives to hazing
~ Identify the timeline for hazing prevention
~ Identify the role of administrators, coaches, the Panhellenic council, student-athletes, sorority and fraternity members and presidents, and counseling departments
~ Review the hazing “test”
What is Hazing
~ Any action taken or any situation created intentionally that causes embarrassment, harassment or ridicule and risks emotional and/or physical harm to members of a group or team, whether new or not, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate
~ 79% of NCAA athletes report coming to college with a prior hazing experience from high school or middle school
What is Hazing
~ Types of Hazing
~ Verbal abuse
~ Forced activities for new recruits to ‘prove’ their worth to join
~ Being asked to perform acts that go against personal beliefs such as committing a crime, humiliating someone else
~ Simulating sexual activities
~ Being subjected to a perceived physical danger (including beatings,
~ Requirement to endure hardships such as staying awake, physical labor
~ Coerced alcohol abuse
~ Personal servitude or meaningless tasks
Hazing Facts to Know
~ Any setting in which total respect for everyone’s dignity is not present can lead to a hazing climate/environment.
~ “Severity” is not always measured in observed harm . Some hazing victims report that the mental hazing they endured was worse that being physically abused.
~ Earlier trauma can make what may seem like a prank to some, emotionally distressing to others.
~ Pre-emption and prevention is much more effective than reaction.
~ Hazing is denied by using aliases: Pranks, stunts, antics, traditions, initiations, rites of passage
~ Alcohol reduces inhibitions and the ability to resist or protest.
~ Where there is a power imbalance, there is a risk of coercion.
Difference Between Hazing and Bullying
~ The Intersection of Bullying and Hazing – how are they similar?
~ Motivation for bullying and hazing is often identity-based
~ Imbalance of power exists
~ Left unchecked each can contribute to an environment where the behavior is acceptable
~ Each is a precursor to more destructive, hateful behavior
~ The Intersection of Bullying and Hazing – how are they different?
~ Bullying excludes the target from the group, whereas hazing is a ritual or process imposed on a person who wants to be part of the group
~ Bullies often act alone, but hazing usually involves a group, team or organization
How is Hazing Justified?
~ Moral Justification – Make it socially worthy (e.g., creating bonds, building unity).
~ Euphemistic labeling – Sanitized language of non-responsibility (e.g., “team building”).
~ Advantageous comparison – War analogy – “We’re going to battle.”
~ Diffusion of Responsibility – Normative conformity “Everyone is doing it;” avoidance of personal responsibility.
~ Disregard/distortion of consequences – No evidence anyone was seriously injured.
~ Athlete on a scholarship
~ Sorority member who has paid dues, meal plan, lives in house
~ Team member who dropped out because he “changed his mind.”
How is Hazing Justified?
~ Displacement of responsibility
~ “We’re just carrying on tradition”
~ Intentionally uninformed – “We don’t have a problem with hazing here,” or “I don’t want to know.”
~ Surreptitious sanctioning (wink and nod)
~ Dehumanization – Perception of freshmen as “less than”; use of masks, costumes, etc.
~ Attribution of Blame – Blame the victim – “They agreed to it.”
Impact of Hazing