One of the most persistent challenges in ending hazing is that many people believe hazing victims have willingly agreed to be hazed. However, the psychology of hazing makes consent nearly impossible.

What makes consent difficult to give?

New members are not fully aware of hazing risks.

• A key component of hazing is secrecy - the hazers know what will happen and have an incentive to keep hazing secret and lie to potential victims. Those being hazed are blind to actual risks.
• Those being hazed have little incentive to learn about hazing risks because they want to belong in the group and they know the hazers won't provide information, even if asked.
• Hazing strategies such as kidnapping, blindfolding, or other forms of sensory deprivation are used to produce anxiety and extreme stress, further reducing students' ability to give consent.
• The most frequent hazing behavior is drinking games. A person cannot consent, or make informed decisions about potential risk, when intoxicated or high.
• Group dynamics encourage conformity and prevent students from speaking up or asking questions.
• Those being hazed follow the group expectations of hazing because they want to gain membership and/or avoid social punishment, loss of group membership, or being ostracized (which may extend to people outside the group).

Psychological forces drive students to endure hazing, even as behaviors escalate and threats to well-being seem imminent.

• Once hazing begins, victims often feel that they have invested too many resources to quit.
• The more a student endures, the more likely they are to continue with the group, in part to “prove” to themselves they made the right choice in joining, and in going along with earlier hazing activities.

Hazing begins early - often in high school, which makes it seem acceptable and an unavoidable cost of fitting in.

• 47% of college students report being hazed prior to college.¹
• 55% of college students involved in clubs, teams and organizations experience hazing.¹
• Even if a student isn’t hazed, they likely see friends being hazed, which increases the misperception that hazing is widespread and therefore acceptable.

Sources:

Amicus Brief submitted by HazingPrevention.org on behalf of the State of Florida in the Robert Champion hazing death case, authored by Gregory S. Parks, JD, PhD., Dean Parks Associate Dean of Research, Public Engagement, & Faculty Development and Professor of Law at Wake Forest University School of Law.

¹Allan, E.J. and Madden, M. (2008) Hazing in View: College Students at Risk.