Faculty Publications

Duct Tape, Icy Hot & Paddles: Narratives Of Initiation Onto US Male Sport Teams

Document Type

Article

Keywords

Hazing, Health-compromising behavior, Overconformity

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Sport, Education and Society

Volume

16

Issue

1

First Page

111

Last Page

125

Abstract

In the United States, initiation or hazing activities in high school and university sport are increasingly being recognized as a serious issue facing coaches and sport administrators. These events include humiliation, degradation or abuse of new team members, presumed to enhance team bonding. This study is grounded in Waldron and Krane's conceptual framework linking social goal orientation and over conformity to team norms. We conducted focus group interviews with nine former male high-school athletes examining their hazing experiences. A narrative approach to the data analysis was used to provide a comprehensive account of their combined experiences. The data were integrated into monologues describing experiences of being hazed, one positively perceived and one negatively perceived experience. A third monologue presents the perspective of the athlete doing the hazing. These stories highlight the perceived rationale and acceptance of hazing, the emotional toll of being hazed and the power dynamics that allow hazing to continue. © 2011 Taylor & Francis.

Department

School of Health, Physical Education, and Leisure Services

Original Publication Date

1-1-2011

DOI of published version

10.1080/13573322.2011.531965

Link to Full Text

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