Conceptualizing a Meaningful Definition of Hazing in Sport

The nature and extent of college student hazing

“…In 1998 -1999, a national survey of intercollegiate varsity athletes found that 79 % experienced some form of hazing (1) . However, in the decade since 2000, more published research has emerged with a range of foci including: attitudes toward hazing (11,16,17) , theories about why hazing persists (12,18,19) , and studies about the nature and extent of hazing (11,20,21) .…”

Psychological Injury in Pediatric and Adolescent Sports

“…In Saskatchewan, Canada, eleven senior high school athletes were charged in a hazing event that involved hitting younger Grade 9 and 10 team members with hickey sticks [ 44 ]. Hazing is defi ned as: Any potentially humiliating, degrading, abusive, or dangerous activity expected of a junior ranking athlete by a more senior teammate, which does not contribute to either athlete's positive development, but is required to be accepted as part of the team ( [ 45 ], p.449).…”

“We do it for the team” – Student-athletes’ initiation practices and their impact on group cohesion

“…However, many team members may consider this to be a harmless, appropriate, and justifiable initiation activity. One possible explanation for this is that many student and young athletes are unable to define hazing (Allen & Madden, 2008;Crow & MacIntosh, 2009). Allen and Madden (2008), in one of the largest studies conducted into initiations and hazing in the USA with student-athletes, reported that there was confusion and a lack of knowledge about what constituted inappropriate initiation activities and hazing.…”

“…These hypothetical benefits include demonstrating allegiance and dedication to the team and transitioning from new to accepted in-group member (Crow & MacIntosh, 2009;Kirby & Wintrup, 2002;Waldron, Lynn, & Krane, 2011). Waldron et al (2011) also suggested that a common explanation for engaging in initiation rituals is the misguided belief that they enhance the dynamics and subsequent cohesion of the team.…”

“…Firstly, it is not only the physical danger associated with an activity that can lead to it being categorised as hazing but also the psychological impact and trauma felt or suffered. Secondly, ostensibly harmless activities can be considered hazing if they have a negative psychological impact on the individual (Crow & MacIntosh, 2009). For instance, the seemingly innocuous activity of the new player having to sing a song to the team could be defined as an inappropriate form of initiation if the player feels humiliated and degraded by the forced completion of the task.…”