Citation

Sweet S. J. Coll. Stud. Dev. 1999; 40(4): 355-364.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1999, American College Personnel Association)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Hazing remains a major problem on college campuses. An analysis through the symbolic interactionist perspective indicates that hazing occurs because fraternities view it as a necessary component of their initiation rites. A contributing factor is that fraternities engage in systematic manipulation of symbols, social relations, and definitions of situations while reshaping the pledge's “self: “ Consequently, pledges willingly engage in activities that, under other conditions, they otherwise resist. Several practical applications of the symbolic interactionist perspective are suggested that may help prevent future hazing incidents.