A New Mentality

If suggestions on combating the negative effects of hazing are taken into consideration, there will be numerous benefits that can occur. To begin, the overall well-being of young adults entering organizations that are coined with the reputation of conducting hazing will have positive benefits. In some sense, hazing and sexual harassment can be evaluated on a similar playing field. For instance, hazing, much like sexual harassment, “has become normative behavior. As a society we can begin making the fundamental cultural changes necessary to reduce the incidence of sexual harassment when we better understand the conditions under which people label it and identify it as inappropriate”. [1] Hazing has become a normal term to hear among college students. The fact that something that an activity that can deliberately harm others is a normative statement within college lingo is unethical. Therefore, if we make cultural changes to have a mentality of acceptance and understanding, we can eliminate the negative effects of hazing.

Celebratory Initiation

Furthermore, a greater emphasis should be placed on the celebratory element of initiation rather than the humiliation factors. When the focus is aimed towards humiliation, there is a strong “association with a host of psychological, relational, and societal problems, as well as with clinical disorders such as low self-esteem, depression, general anxiety, suicidal intentions”.[2] Thus, by promoting humiliation, the negative effects are long term and take away from the positive aspects of exclusive organizations. Therefore, greater emphasis should be placed on the “reintegration” to society when conducting initiation rites.[3] This mentality allows for the focus to be shifted towards positive aspects of being associated with an exclusive organization. For instance, in regards to Greek life organizations, students are drawn to these experiences for the social opportunities that present itself. These student groups “also provides an opportunity for students to gain academic support and hone leadership skills. After graduation, students can use the social and cultural capital that flows through Greek membership as a tool for navigating occupational, marital, and social marketplaces (Armstrong 2008; Stuber 2009; Domhoff 2010; Sermersheim 1996).”[4] Ultimately, there are numerous beneficial aspects of joining exclusive student group organizations. Greek life, in particular, devotes much of their time to philanthropic tasks and creating a sense of comradery between members. Those associated with Greek life take pride in the particular initiative of their organization. Therefore, these are the aspects that should be the main focus on college campuses, not humiliation factor as a means to being accepted.

Opt-Out 

Additionally, as I have argued in previous analysis, participants in any scenario should feel that they can reject any activity they feel will cause them more harm than good. In accordance with instrumentalism, if the end result of a scenario does not justify the action at hand, one has the right to opt out. According to Len Fisher in his book Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life, “opting out can actually promote cooperation with those who have chosen not to opt out”.[5] The deontic good in this scenario is the ability for people to go agains the norm and step away from a situation that they do not fill is right. Therefore, presenting the challenge of instilling an environment in which it is accepted to opt out of situations. In other words, promoting an environment in which people do not fear their reputation for choosing to opt out can prove to be more beneficial for both parties. Ultimately, those involved are fully, and voluntarily, engaged in the activities and no one is being forced to complete a task against their will.

[1] Shepela, Sharon Toffey, and Laurie L. Levesque. “Poisoned Waters: Sexual Harassment and the College Climate.” SpringerLink. Accessed April 19, 2018. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/A:1018791126393.

[2] Liesbeth, Allard, Leiser, Anne, Fischer, and Agneta H. “When Is Humiliation More Intense? The Role of Audience Laughter and Threats to the Self.” Frontiers. March 16, 2017. Accessed April 22, 2018. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00495/full.

[3] Mann, Liesbeth, Allard R. Feddes, Bertjan Doosie, and Agneta H. Fischer. 2016. “Withdraw or affiliate? The role of humiliation during initiation rituals.” Cognition & Emotion 30, no. 1:80 -100. Academic Search Complete, EBSCOhost (accessed March 8, 2018).

[4] Stuber, Jenny M., Joshua Klugman, and Caitlin Daniel. “Gender, Social Class, and Exclusion: Collegiate Peer Cultures and Social Reproduction.” Sociological Perspectives 54, no. 3 (2011): 431-51. doi:10.1525/sop.2011.54.3.431.

[5] Fisher, Len. “Rock, Paper, Scissors: Game Theory in Everyday Life”. New York, NY: Basic Books, 2008.