Hazing as a habit

In culture, Hazing was a sociologically interesting habit. Many deaths, injuries, nudity revelations and extreme alcohol poisoning are typical behaviors. While national law activities are illegalized and school rules are even more banned, practice was never ended. The use of physically degrading or psycho-traumatizing methods to haze or incorporate new participants of a community is detrimental to both school and society. It kills the company prematurely. Hazing
My selected topic for the research paper is hazing. Hazing is initiation practices or ceremonies into a group. Hazing, as it is known in American has different names in various places globally. It is called bastardization in the Australia, ragging in many parts of South Asian countries and initiation ceremonies in the United Kingdom. Hazing is a vital part of joining various groups, for instance, gangs, sports groups, learning institutions, military groups, various fraternities and sororities as is common in colleges and universities (Van Raalte et al. 2017). Hazing (initiation rites) processes range from harmless pranks to life-threatening behaviors which are perceivable as criminal or abuse of other people rights. National laws legally forbid such initiation rituals, and even many colleges have established strict regulations to stop them. The practice comes with extreme physical or psychological abuses on the persons wishing to join the groups. In some cases, hazing has involved even exposing of nudes or even sexual assault on the new members. Hazing not only affects the physical and psychological nature of people but also triggers death in some cases (Srabstein, 2015).
I chose the topic to enable me to reflect both on it harmful and positive influences in the society. Several rituals, rites, have disturbed the society and practices performed in secrecy by various groups such as students in learning institutions. Some practices have led to the loss of lives or even serious injuries. Hazing as a rite has been related to extreme psychological or physical pain which is similar to many of practices globally which people undergoes to secure their place into a new group. For instance, many cultures globally have perilous rituals that young male members undergo to attain recognition into maturity. One of the best example is circumcision without the use of pain relievers. Currently, some of the most common hazing practices are the promotion of alcohol intoxication, physical beating, humiliation and degrading of new members (Finkel, 2016). The study shows that some of the practices are undertaken without the initiate’s approval and may endanger his or her life. Despite the destructive nature of the hazing practices, they have never died out despite opposition by institutions. Initiates have been succumbing to injuries related to the hazing practices. For instance, John Butler, a student of Franklin Seminary in Kentucky, succumbed to injuries he got from hazing processes in 1838. Students have been passing on due to such practices even before the 1800s. Recently, Andrew Coffey from the Florida state university died after a Pi Kappa Phi hazing on 3 November 2017.
Hazing has several sociological perceived importance to the hazer (person performing hazing), the organization group and the victim. Some of the sociological reasons for the support of hazing are to support malicious intentions since some people benefit psychologically through victimizing others. The group may also undertake hazing to widen the development of their union. Sociologically, the organizations benefit from hazing through believing that such ceremonies bring people together and closer. Hazing is effectual in weeding out people who are weak and unwilling to undergo the extremes of becoming true members. It also maintains the intactness of the traditions and allows for the passages of such habits to future members (Srabstein, 2015). The ceremonies create a social binding for the members, allows them to learn from each other and harbor a sense of shared pride. There are multiple sociological gains for the hazer (person guiding on the hazing process). The hazer feels proud for being in an acting a role in the continuation of the group’s traditions; he or she feels powerful and great respect within the organization. The hazer also enjoys the fun of intimidating others. Hazing makes victims perceive a sense of accomplishment and reenergizes them to adopt new adaptation skills. It also makes victims feel part of the group and make the victim ready for the life challenges. Hazing also encourages self-discipline and permits new initiates to undertake crazy things (Finkel, 2016).
Apart from the few perceived merits that hazing organizations get through the continuation of their practices, the society has received multiple negative impacts from hazing activities. Taking an instance whereby hazing is conducted in a learning facility, the facility is exposed to numerous demerits. Universities being the place in which such illegal actions are committed are held legally liable to potential risks if such programs go wrong. Harmful hazing practices destroy the relationship between new members and established members and may create mistrust in such unions. The deplorable conducts from the hazing conduct trigger dissents within members and may lead to Poor commitment especially for the people who do not support such practices. Irrespective of the benefits that the organization generates in society, many prospective members may wish to rethink their desire to join the union or even school if it is a school tradition. Many members face the uphill tasks of trying to conceal group’s practices and even feel the discomfort of trying support actions that are inconsistent with personal values. Damages and illegalities that emerge from hazing are prosecutable in court and possible criminal, or civil penalties may harm the organization. The future of the people who practiced hazing while in college may be at potential risk if the possible employers get wind of the history of the person (Srabstein, 2015).
The major changes in society because of hazing are mainly in legislation. Due to the perilous nature of hazing, several states enacted laws to prohibit hazing. For instance, the Michigan penal code Act 328 of 1931 prohibited hazing. The Michigan law outlines a punishment of 93 days or a fine not exceeding $1,000.00 for the people who undertake hazing. Florida also has inti-hazing Laws which require schools to have proper anti-hazing policies for the school to be considered for assistance. The society opposes hazing especially due to the huge number of calamities and deaths emanating from hazing. Schools as part of the society have also triggered mechanism to stop hazing behaviors through the imposition of fines, probations, suspension and dismissals and many other possible punishments for the students who commit such errors in the society (Van Raalte et al. 2017).
The best type of research methodologies that would best help a researcher research hazing topic should assess the types of groups which members join. Some hazing activities have been identified to admirable input qualities to the new members, but some hazing activities have been associated with a harmful circumstance in the society. The research methodologies should assess whether hazing ceremony into sororities may have a different or same impact as the impact on fraternity (Srabstein, 2015). One of the influential qualities research methodologies may address is the improvement level in the self-esteem of people who were introduced into groups. The research methodology should also address the sociological benefits from haziness in the society through qualitative measuring of the responses of the members of the society. The random sampling will be essential in obtaining dependable results. Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale testing may be vital in the measurement of the self-esteem. The research approach should observe caution not to overexpose private of confidential responses which may cause embarrassment to the respondents. Other notable features to include in the research methodology design are the demographic profile, for instance, sexual orientation, race, place of residence, and Greek affiliation especially if the research deals with students in a learning facility.
The common perspective that explains hazing more vividly is the desire to build deliberate and purposeful solidarity. A scholar and psychologist Robert Cialdini employed the outline of consistency and personal commitment to elaborate hazing phenomenon. Cialdini observed that people would practice hazing despite the prohibition of such behaviors in the society. Cialdini acknowledged a study which found out that people who undergo tribulation to get what they wanted in life were more predisposed to protect such thing as compared to people who experienced little changes. The study led to the adoption of the Leon Festinger’s theory that is hugely regarded as the cognitive dissonance theory. Scholars established that hazing activity may not end soon since people who received challenges during its implementation would still want to encourage the practice despite the stiff societal penalties on the behavior (Van Raalte et al. 2017).
Another group of sociologist claims that ’The Perfect Storm Theory’ leads to the continuation of the hazing. The Perfect Storm Theory emanates from the belief that a combination of factors as it is a case of a storm leads to hazing. According to the sociologists, the combining factors that cause the development of hazing are many. One of the factors is human nature. According to Charles Darwin’s theory which acknowledges that only the fittest survives, people always enter into groups to seek protection and other benefits regardless of other harms. Another key contributor to hazing is developmental Needs.
In conclusion, students are predisposed to hazing due to multiple factors making the process hard to stop. At school students are separated from the families, and they try seek identity and acceptance leading to forming groups. Another hazing contributor factor is traditions or Initiation rites which have been passed over many generations. Unsupervised environmental conditions propagate the behaviour.it creates a situation of lack of accountability and responsibility (Finkel, 2016). Different personalities and the Emotional States also contribute to hazing, for instance, huge demands for more output from sports coach may push the team to practice hazing as part of their program. The configuration of Groups allows for the perpetuation of some unaccepted practices in life.

References
Van Raalte, J. L., Cornelius, A. E., Linder, D. E., & Brewer, B. W. (2017). The relationship between hazing and team cohesion. Journal of Sport Behavior, 30(4), 491.
Srabstein, J. (2015). Deaths linked to bullying and hazing. International journal of adolescent medicine and health, 20(2), 235-239.
Finkel, M. A. (2016). Traumatic injuries caused by hazing practices. The American journal of emergency medicine, 20(3), 228-233.