Hazing is defined as any action taken or situation created intentionally which causes embarrassment, discomfort or harassment. Hazing can be physical in nature, mental in nature or psychological in nature. Hazing is often used in organizations to initiate new members into a group. This type of initiation has no place in the military and military leaders have been vocal about eradicating it from the military.
In 2012, a Hazing Prevention Web page was launched by the U.S. Marine Corp to empower personnel with the knowledge and tools to prevent hazing of any kind in their unit or organization. They define Hazing as: “Hazing is a form of initiation that…creates embarrassment, discomfort or harassment”.
The web page goes on to explain how Hazing can lead to serious consequences including injury, misconduct and death. Hazing is not allowed in any branch of the military at all. No one responsible for hazing will go unpunished if it causes mischief that breaks both federal and service-level rules, regulations and policies.
Hazing has been a part of military culture since the first armies were formed. Hazing was a means of enforcing military values, encouraging teamwork and creating trust among members of an isolated group going through extreme stress together. Hazing practices have changed over time as abuses became more common, but they remain important for establishing hierarchy and cohesion within groups that face conditions often found in combat zones. Hazing is also reported to have positive effects on mental health, such as reducing depression and increasing happiness levels.
Military hazing is officially defined as being any activity expected of someone joining a group which humiliates, degrades or risks emotional and/or physical harm, regardless of the person’s willingness to participate. Hazing practices vary between militaries and change over time. Hazing is considered a crime in some countries, but it is not banned by international law. Hazing has been reported as present in 80% of militaries surveyed, and researchers agree that it is more common than it officially reported.
Hazing may occur throughout the world but is reported more often within national military forces. Hazing occurs most frequently during basic training when there are no preexisting relationships between authority figures and recruits to prevent abuse from occurring—longer or more rigorous basic training periods have been associated with increased bullying. It may also be related to conscription laws: military hazing reportedly increases in locations where conscription rates are higher.
Hazing practices have been found to affect members’ mental health negatively, such as increasing the risk of developing post-traumatic stress disorder. Hazing has been reported as a factor in 20% of suicides within the US military. Hazing that involves sexual harassment and sexual assault is considered to be psychological and physical abuse and can violate orders such as protection orders and no-contact orders. Hazing practices vary widely between militaries, so it’s important to understand what is acceptable where you are serving.
Hazing is an official offense in some countries, but not all: Hazing practices may be intended to bolster unit cohesion, increase group loyalty (for example by creating “us vs them” dynamics), perpetuate military mythology (bypassing down semi-mythical accounts or folklore that portrays current members’ actions in a positive light), or create a sense of tradition. Hazing in the military is often seen as a ritual and is sometimes committed by military veterans who want to share their experiences with new recruits.
Hazing also promotes conformity within units, which may help reduce instances of insubordination and failure to obey orders that can threaten missions. Hazing practices have been reported as being especially prevalent when an outsider joins a unit [or group]. Hazing among militaries from different countries varies widely. Hazing behaviors are thought to reflect “cultural differences” between militaries: Hazing in the U. S. military has been studied since the 20th century, but it attracted attention during World War II when deaths occurred due to intense hazing rituals.
Hazing has been connected to the military throughout history. Hazing may have become more prevalent with the advent of new training techniques that required greater exertion from soldiers than in previous wars. Hazing among militaries across cultures is not easily studied due to concern about reporting bias, meaning it may be underreported by those victimized and over-reported by perpetrators seeking justification for their actions.
Hazing has been thought to serve as a method of social control within military settings, but one study found hazing was actually associated with decreased group cohesion. Hannity is considered part of creating unit identity if it creates negative feelings which are temporary or harmless. Some researchers suggest that hazing can ritually transform recruits into “legitimate” members of their unit through a process of othering, which is thought to be a component of socialization.
Hazing has been found to be associated with “legitimate” military practices, such as merit-based hierarchies and intensive training. Hazing was more strongly associated with perceived legitimacy at lower levels of rank. Hazing victims tend to have lower self-esteem, but this may be due to military hazing being used as a way to determine whether or not recruits are worthy of a higher position. Hazing victims who fail hazing initiatives may face punishment from their superiors for failure.
Military hazing can create power differentials between members that cause physical and emotional trauma for those subjected to rituals—it tends to create an emotional distance between individuals and authority figures that can lead to an increase in the occurrence of hazing and abuse. Hazing victims may not report victimization due to fear of intimidation, retaliation, and ostracization. Hazing is characterized as a “tradition” that binds groups together because it creates hostility toward those who have been hazed by others outside their group. Hazing was found to be associated with perceived legitimacies for maintaining order.