Perhaps as a result of its study, Cornell has an extensive anti-hazing Web site. Its section on "Theory and Research" discusses more than a dozen social and psychological factors that contribute to hazing. One is misperceived social norms, where a majority of members may disapprove of hazing but feel they are in the minority and remain silent. It also cites media influences that may encourage hazing, including popular television shows like Survivor and The Apprentice. These shows often feature college-aged contestants that endure activities similar to hazing rituals. Participants compete to see who can tolerate the most disgusting and even dangerous situations in order to make the final cut.
Research suggests hazing will be hard to eliminate because it meets many positive psychological needs, such as bonding between new and old members, and negative needs like dominance for those who need to feel powerful. In addition, students consistently engage in denial, underestimate its dangers and don't perceive that there are credible alternatives that will accomplish the same results.
Some colleges are attacking the denial head-on by making it harder for students to convince themselves they are just engaging in pranks, bonding or team-building exercises. Harvard University, for instance, provides its Web site visitors with an interactive screening tool to help students define hazing. The school also has a hot line where students can report incidents anonymously. Cornell provides specific details of hazing incidents that took place on campus.
Because hazing is generally limited to a small slice of the population - usually young people in school or the military - anti-hazing efforts do not receive sufficient societal attention and support, experts say.
"Several campuses have had great success in reducing or even eliminating hazing," said Phillip A. Johnson, the president-elect of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administration. "Consistently enforcing the laws and rules against hazing plays a critical role. However, it's not just a job for the campus police. Students and parents have to give us the information we need to investigate, and the administration has to take it seriously because in most cases, hazing is punished by the college, not the courts."
