If you want to join a - fraternity or sorority – student association, you generally have to endure an uncomfortable introduction period. Humiliating activities are often inextricably linked with this hazing phase. Trekking half-naked through the city, or cleaning toilets with toothbrushes; it's supposed to be good for building solidarity among the new intake. According to researcher Liesbeth Mann, expert in the field of humiliation, however, this is a misconception.

Following an introduction about the academic consensus on the emergence of humiliation in various situations, with particular reference to the notorious Stanford Prison Experiment, Mann had only a short time - thanks to the shorter lunch break - to tell her audience something about her own doctoral research. Using questions to students about their hazing, an experiment in which test subjects had to dance together while receiving derogatory comments about their performance, and a test in which they had to imagine certain forms of humiliation, she established that collective humiliation does not create a stronger sense of belonging to the group - something that is often claimed.

Emotional impact

The emotional impact of these humiliations can be significant. As resilience training or as a selection technique in the army, humiliation may well have its uses, but on the sense of belonging, by contrast, it has a negative effect. Afterwards there were plenty of questions asked in the sold-out Blauwe Zaal, where half the audience said they themselves had been through hazing, but where only a few dared to admit that they considered drinking games an acceptable part of such an event.

While she did not present it literally as a recommendation, Mann's mention of something that has indeed been proven to work means future generations of Eindhoven society types should prepare for the worst. Her message that suffering pain during hazing has a positive effect on group solidarity was clearly received by the audience with great interest.