Changing Hazing Attitudes (and Hopefully Behavior) Among Black 'Greeks'

Abstract

Hazing has been a persistent issue in collegiate fraternities and sororities, generally, and black Greek-letter organizations (BGLOs) specifically for decades. Interested, BGLO stakeholders have struggled for many years to develop a solution to the problem. In this article we provide two solutions; both stem from the well-researched premise that in order the effectuate a change in human attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors with regard to a concept, augmenting one’s knowledge about that concept is an effective approach. As such, the authors seek to augment BGLO members’ attitudes and beliefs with regard to the notion (1) that hazing is a linear and consistent concept within their organizations and (2) that the stakes associated with hazing are not significant. A change in such attitudes and beliefs may significantly impact BGLO members hazing-related behavior.