Hazing PreventionHazing PreventionUnderstanding Social & Understanding Social &

Psychological Dimension of HazingPsychological Dimension of Hazing

Joe Gervais, M.Ed.Joe Gervais, M.Ed.University of VermontUniversity of Vermont

IT COULD HAPPEN.

IT DOES HAPPEN!

UVM Hockey 1999-2000

• 47% 47% of students come to college having of students come to college having experienced hazing behaviors.experienced hazing behaviors.

• 55% 55% of college students involved in clubs, of college students involved in clubs, teams, and organizations experience teams, and organizations experience hazing behaviors.hazing behaviors.

• 90% 90% of students who have experienced of students who have experienced hazing behavior in college do not consider hazing behavior in college do not consider themselves to have been hazed.themselves to have been hazed.

National Study of Student Hazing National Study of Student Hazing 20082008

The Great DivideThe Great Divide

• Gap between what students believe is Gap between what students believe is hazing, and how hazing is defined in hazing, and how hazing is defined in policy/law.policy/law.

• Alfred Reports (1999, 2000)Alfred Reports (1999, 2000)

• National Study of Student Hazing (2008) National Study of Student Hazing (2008)

• MythMyth——A popular A popular beliefbelief or or assumptionassumption embodying the ideals and institutions of a embodying the ideals and institutions of a society or segment of society (i.e. athletic society or segment of society (i.e. athletic teams, Greek letter organizations, student teams, Greek letter organizations, student clubs and organizations).clubs and organizations).

• What are some popular beliefs and What are some popular beliefs and assumptions about hazing?assumptions about hazing?

MythologyMythology

Prevalent Hazing BeliefsPrevalent Hazing Beliefs

• Hazing is no more than innocent pranks.Hazing is no more than innocent pranks.• As long as there is no malicious intent, a little As long as there is no malicious intent, a little

hazing is OK and can be a good thing.hazing is OK and can be a good thing.• EVERYONE PARTICIPATED VOLUNTARILY, EVERYONE PARTICIPATED VOLUNTARILY,

SO IT CAN’T BE CONSIDERED HAZING.SO IT CAN’T BE CONSIDERED HAZING.• HAZING BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A HAZING BRINGS US TOGETHER AS A

GROUP AND HELPS TO CREATE BONDS.GROUP AND HELPS TO CREATE BONDS.

Myth Myth is also…an is also…an unfoundedunfounded or or falsefalse notion. notion.

Beliefs and assumptionsBeliefs and assumptions about hazing, that it will about hazing, that it will bring a group together and promote improved bring a group together and promote improved functioning, are functioning, are not well founded or truenot well founded or true. Just . Just the opposite…the opposite…

HAZING DIVIDES GROUPS, HAZING DIVIDES GROUPS, IMPEDES FUNCTIONING!IMPEDES FUNCTIONING!

Psycho/Social DynamicsPsycho/Social Dynamics

► Intense desire/need to belong.Intense desire/need to belong.Students willing and Students willing and

even even expect expect initiation.initiation.

► Cognitive dissonanceCognitive dissonance..Can’tCan’t change change

behavior, behavior, so change so change attitude. Speaks to attitude. Speaks to conformityconformity

Psycho/Social DynamicsPsycho/Social Dynamics

► Pluralistic Ignorance.Pluralistic Ignorance.No one else responds =No one else responds =not interpreted as problemnot interpreted as problem

► Emotional displacementEmotional displacement..Denial of emotional Denial of emotional consequences. Pay it consequences. Pay it back back

to next year’s class.to next year’s class.

Hazing DefinedHazing DefinedUVM PolicyUVM Policy

Hazing means any act committed by a person, whether individually or in concert with others, against a student in connection with pledging, being initiated into, affiliating with, holding office in, or maintaining membership in any organization …; and that has the effect of socially or physically isolating, humiliating, intimidating, or demeaning the student; or that can harm the mental or physical health of a student.

Hazing DefinedHazing DefinedUVM Policy, continuedUVM Policy, continued

• Hazing also includes soliciting, directing, aiding, or otherwise participating actively or passively in such acts.

• Hazing occurs regardless of the consent or willingness of a person to participate in the activity.

• Hazing may occur on or off campus.

At the University of Vermont At the University of Vermont we believe that students we believe that students

should not be demeaned or should not be demeaned or exposed to harm when exposed to harm when pursuing involvement in pursuing involvement in

campus life.campus life.

--UVM Hazing Prevention Pledge --UVM Hazing Prevention Pledge

Common Sense Hazing TestCommon Sense Hazing Test

1. Is this a team or group activity that members are encouraged or expected to attend and where illegal activity is taking place?

2. Does the activity risk emotional or physical harm?

3. Would you object to the activity being photographed for the Cynic, local TV, or posted on the internet?

Why Stop Hazing?Why Stop Hazing?

1.1. Practical—Practical—Hazing myths don’t operate Hazing myths don’t operate as people believe they do. as people believe they do.

2.2. Moral—Moral—Do you really want to be Do you really want to be responsible for physical and/or emotional responsible for physical and/or emotional harm to another student?harm to another student?

3.3. Leadership—Leadership—No matter what your beliefs No matter what your beliefs about hazing, policy & law prohibit the about hazing, policy & law prohibit the practice. Are the (questionable!) benefits practice. Are the (questionable!) benefits worth the risk?worth the risk?

ResourcesResourceswww.uvm.edu/hazingprevention

www.stophazing.orgwww.stophazing.org

www.hazingstudy.orgwww.hazingstudy.org

www.hazingprevention.orgwww.hazingprevention.org

www.uvm.edu/hazingpreventionwww.uvm.edu/hazingprevention

jgervais@uvm.edujgervais@uvm.edu

ReferencesReferencesAllan, E.J. (2002). Hazing and the making of men.Allan, E.J. (2002). Hazing and the making of men.

http://www.stophazing.org/makingofmen.htm

Bandura, A. (2002). Selective moral disengagement in the Bandura, A. (2002). Selective moral disengagement in the exercise of moral agency. exercise of moral agency. Journal of Moral EducationJournal of Moral Education, , 31, 2.31, 2.

Janssen, J. (2003). The team captain’s leadership manual. Janssen, J. (2003). The team captain’s leadership manual.

Milburn, M. (2002). “The Psychological Underpinnings of Milburn, M. (2002). “The Psychological Underpinnings of Hazing.” Presented at “Hazing in Schools and Youth Hazing.” Presented at “Hazing in Schools and Youth Groups” conference, Chelsea, MA. June 15, 2002.Groups” conference, Chelsea, MA. June 15, 2002.