High School Hazing
| What are the Consequences of being Hazed? |
Nearly three-quarters of the high school students who reported they were hazed said they had one or more negative consequences.
|
Percent of Students Hazed Who Suffered Negative Consequences |
| Consequences |
% |
Consequences |
% |
| Got into a fight |
24 |
Committed a crime |
16 |
| Was injured |
23 |
Considered suicide |
15 |
| Fought with my parents |
22 |
Got sick |
12 |
| Did poorly in school work |
21 |
Quit going out with friends |
11 |
| Missed school, practice, work, meeting |
19 |
Got in trouble with police |
10 |
| Hurt someone else |
20 |
Was convicted of a crime |
4 |
| Had difficulty eating, sleeping, concentrating |
18 |
One or more negative consequence |
71 |
|
Twelve percent (n=32) reported "other" consequences, including:
- Negative consequences: was depressed, cried all the time, was completely miserable, fought with my family, was uncomfortable, was tormented throughout high school, "was made fun of-but who cares?", suffered low self-esteem, was insulted, had an emotional break down, or sustained internal bruising (41%).
- Positive consequences: gained valuable life experiences, matured, really woke up, or experienced joy/elation/satisfaction, natural high, found it challenging, had fun (31%).
- Relief: was relieved or glad to know others had done it too (29%).
Among the students who reported being hazed, their feelings were split between negative and positive. Many reported both. Thirteen percent wanted revenge, but reported few other feelings. |
Students' Feelings about Being Hazed |
| Negative Feelings |
% |
Positive Feelings |
% |
| Angry |
35 |
Part of the group |
43 |
| Embarrassed |
28 |
Proud |
30 |
| Confused |
25 |
Strong |
27 |
| Guilty |
23 |
Trusted |
18 |
| Regretful |
21 |
Total |
59 |
| Sad |
20 |
Other Feelings |
|
| Total |
59 |
Wanted Revenge |
13 |
| Categories of Feelings |
% |
|
|
| Negative Feelings |
27 |
|
|
| Both Negative and Positive |
32 |
|
|
| Positive Feelings |
27 |
|
|
| Revenge |
14 |
|
|
|
Seventeen percent marked "other" feelings (n=44). Interestingly, the respondents divided evenly among the three categories:
- Negative feelings: felt hurt, betrayed ("those people were supposed to be my friends"), used, lonely ("I was lonely and would have done anything. That's stupid."), unintelligent, dirty, dishonored, worthless, degraded (sic), hatred, afraid or "guilty after I returned my meanness," had fun, was excited, happy, real, alive, felt good about myself, cool, confident, strong, and like a family.
- Neutral feelings: normal, relieved, glad it was over, or indifferent. (One student said, "It was fun, but I was angry because there's no choice.")
Students who thought hazing was a problem felt isolated from adults. Forty percent of the students said they wouldn't report hazing. When asked why they would not report hazing, 36 percent replied: "There's no one to tell. Who could I tell?" Twenty-seven percent said "Adults would not know how to handle it" and 28 percent said, "It's not a problem. Sometimes accidents happen." Peer pressure seemed less of a factor in not reporting hazing. Twenty-four percent said "Other kids would make my life miserable," and 16 percent said "I just wouldn't tell on my friends, no matter what." |
| Percent of Students Who Would Not Report Hazing and Why Not |
| Student Reporting of Hazing |
% |
| Would you report hazing? No--> |
40 |
| If not, why not (mark all that apply) |
|
| There's no one to tell. Who could I tell? |
36 |
| It's not a problem. Sometimes accidents happen. |
28 |
| Adults wouldn't know how to handle it right. |
27 |
| Other kids would make my life miserable. |
24 |
| I just wouldn't tell on my friends no matter what. |
16 |
|
More links:
Acknowledgements
Executive Summary
What are Initiation Rites?
How Many Students are Hazed?
Who is Most At-Risk of Being Hazed?
What are the Consequences?
Why Do They Do That?
How Do We Stop Hazing?
Recommendations
Discussion
Methodology
Resources
Alfred University Senior Paper - Hazing
Hazing Study PDF Format
Initiation Rites for NSAA Sports Teams