Full Description
Despite negative connotations and empirical evidence to support detrimental aspects of fraternity and sorority membership, decades of nationally representative data show students remain interested in joining. This monograph reconsiders the value of membership, based on scholarly research published since 1996 in the following ways: * Through identifying behavioral, psychological and educational outcomes of fraternity/sorority involvement * By differentiating outcomes between and among organizations * Through recommending implications for policy and practice based on research. Findings revealed an unexpected amount of scholarly research interest on fraternity and sorority involvement, and membership correlates in the last two decades from a variety of disciplines. Despite a disproportionate focus on behavioral correlates, such as alcohol use, hazing and sexual assault, researchers in the past decade have slowly added psychosocial and educational considerations, building toward a more holistic understanding of outcomes related to involvement.
Contents
Executive Summary ix Foreword xv Introduction 1 Terminology 3 Problem Statement 4 Purpose of the Monograph 5 Research Questions 5 Importance of the Topic 6 Research Approach 8 Theoretical Consideration 9 Organization of This Monograph 11 Alcohol-Related Behavioral Effects 13 Context 14 Research Design and Terminology 15 Criticisms of the Terminology 17 Rates and Statistics 17 Binge Drinking 18 Heavy Episodic Drinking (HED) 20 Problem Drinking, Alcoholism, and Alcohol Dependence 21 Weekly and Monthly Consumption 22 Special Occasion/High-Risk Drinking 23 Predisposition to Join, Previous Alcohol Experience, and Other Controls 25 The New Member Education Period 27 Socialization and Organizational Effects 28 Consumption at Fraternity Parties 30 Fraternity and Sorority Houses 32 Other Comparisons Within Groups 35 Comparisons to Athletes 37 Comparisons to Other Campus-Based Organizations 39 Consumption Patterns During and After College 42 Summary of Findings 42 Other Behavioral Effects 47 Hazing 47 Hazing Research in Journal Articles 49 Hazing Research in Other Publications 52 Sex-Related Research: Instruments, Terminology, and Criticism 54 Rape Myths, Beliefs, and Bystander Intervention 56 Sexual Aggression and Coercion 58 Sorority as At-Risk Group for Sexual Assault 59 Comparing Fraternity Members to Athletes 62 Other Drug Use 63 Smoking, Other Tobacco, and Salvia divinorum 64 Ecstasy, Marijuana, and Opioid Analgesics 66 Illegal Use of Stimulant Drugs 67 Academic Dishonesty 68 Fake ID Use and Gambling 70 Other Research 73 Summary of Findings 74 Psychosocial Effects 79 Attitudes and Values Toward Self 79 Fraternity Involvement and Identity Formation 81 Sorority Involvement and Identity Formation 84 Sorority Body Image and Disordered Eating 87 Similarities in Identity Formation and Body Image 90 Depression, Self-Esteem, and Sense of Belonging 91 Moral Development and Ethical Issues 93 Attitudes Toward Others 94 Understanding Others and Diverse Experiences 95 Summary of Findings 97 Educational Effects 101 Research Methods and Terminology 102 Critical Thinking and Reasoning Skills 104 Academic Performance, Persistence, and Graduation 105 Other Educational Effects 106 Within-Group Comparison 107 Summary of Findings 108 Recommendations for Practice and Research 111 Recommendations for Campus Professionals and Policy Makers 111 Recommendations for Alumni and Volunteers 114 Recommendations for Inter/National Professionals 115 Recommendations for Fraternity and Sorority Collegiate Members 116 Recommendations for Future Research 118 Recommendations for Refining Research 120 Conclusion 121 References 123 Name Index 141 Subject Index 149 About the Authors 155
