The Greek Society
Conformity, on a daily basis we conform to the social norms set forth before us by our friends, family and past experiences. Group cohesiveness (the desire to which one has to be in and is attracted to the group) greatly increases conformity. Enter Greek life.

We have all seen them, parading down the halls, across campus, and in the Student Union. Strutting around with their number one symbols of pride across their backs or chests, on a sleeve, a pin or hat, GREEKS. Going Greek is a social decision as one enters college. You either are or are not a Greek, which creates a rather noticeable Ingroup\\Outgroup situation, and millions of stereotypes between both Greeks and Independents.

To some Independents, Greeks are seen as followers, conformists, who joined simply to ?buy their friends? and some Greeks see Independents as ?GDIs (God Damned Independents, for lack of better definition), people who are losers because they won?t join, for whatever reason. It has been said that ?From the outside looking in you will never understand it, and from the inside looking out you can not explain it.?

Greeks more predominately create the sense of Ingroup\\Outgroup. It is very simple to see who is part of the group and who is not. It is pretty obvious from the blaring letters, ringing chants, songs, and stories that you are part of the group. From the Greek point of view there are 3 types of groups, Fraternity Men& Sorority Women, Pledges, and everyone else. You are either in or out it is that, plain and simple. You have either chose to conform to the ideals of your perspective organization or you have chosen not to be a part.

There are sub divisions of the In-group, as far as the different organizations; you are a Sig-Kap, TKE, Skull, AST, etc. This is turn creates In-groups amongst the In-group. Each individual organization sees themselves as ?good? and in turn everyone else is ?bad.? Which is a predominate theme in Ingroup\\Outgroup Theory.

Greeks call this ?pride?, conforming to these beliefs is part of the whole Greek concept. Through the pledging process you are taught the ways of the organization, how members are expected to act, and many other fun and interesting tidbits of information. During your pledge period you learn the ideals that are the base of the organization and until you learn to conform to these ideas you are not considered a full member. The conformity within the organization creates a similarity, a bond between the members.

It is funny, but sometimes as a Greek myself, I can hear myself, stereotyping people on the way they act, dress, look, etc., as to what Organization?s ideals I could see them most easily conforming to. Then as the ?good Greek? that I am I introduce these people to prospective Organizations where I think they would fit in, not really giving them a second thought as to where they think they should go. This is how some are influenced to ?conform? and join an organization.

Independents see Greeks as the ultimate conformers, people who all share one brain, a mob mentality of party-ers, and Frat boys, ?sorostitutes? and procrastinators. ?Just another brick in the wall? as Pink Floyd would say it. Most independents do not have a high opinion of Greeks, based on stories, rumors, movies, and the ?Animal House? images. Their particular view of the so-called ?In-group? it not usually one that they long to be apart of. They do not see Greeks as the ?Ingroup? they view their own particular ?cliques? as the ?Ingroup? they want to be a part of. Independents chose not to conform to the standards set forth by ?founders? they have never met and never will meet. As Greeks, on the other hand, we must smile on these non-conformists, for at one time, our ?founders? were the non- conformists, who chose to go another way, with another idea and create our organization. The independents we know today may be the founders of an organization we may know tomorrow.

Some Independents are not Greek for reasons. Some include, ?why should I buy my friends,? ?I don?t have the money,? ?I don?t drink? etc. Some are just not Greek because they chose to be. Contrary to most Greeks opinions sometimes people are not Greek just because they chose to be, no deep down reason. Independents are divided into many other sub-groups, based on interests, where they live, what they like to do, etc. All ways that can basically be joined if you chose to conform to the expectations of the particular Ingroup.

There was, not too long ago, a time when I would not conform to anything or anyone, a time when even I thought being Greek was not a great idea for ANYONE let alone my own individual self. Now I am one of those people wearing letters, joining committees, recruiting members, all to better that which my dad calls ?the white pouffy coat mafia.? I spent my first year at college as an Independent, being part of the different groups within that ?Ingroup,? conforming to all sorts of norms, ideals, searching for the concept of myself and growing and choosing my values and ideas.

Now after two years of being a sister I can honestly say, that maybe, just maybe ?conforming? to the ideals of this ?Ingroup? wasn?t such a terrible idea after all. Looking back it?s been some of the most rewarding and fun times of my whole life, and created a different side of myself that was not present in the Independent setting. Although I personally I usually do not distinguish between Greek and not, sometimes I slip and catch myself wondering when that guy is going to pledge TKE or when that girl is going to rush ASA. Going Greek is part of conforming to a life, one definitely not for everyone, but definitely for me. Works Consulted

Castell, Luigi, Katia Vanzetto, and others; The explicit and implicit perception of in-groups members who use stereotypes: Blatant rejection but subtle conformity. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology. Sep 2001, Vol 37, pp. 419-426.

Pendry, Louise; Carrick, Rachael, Doing what the mob do: Priming effects on conformity. European Journal of Social Psychology. Vol 31, Jan-Feb 2001. pp.83-92

Robinson, Frank; Campaigns for Conformity. Journal of American College Health. May2001, Vol. 49 Issue 6, pp. 316-318.

Rose, Randall L., Bearden, William O., Manning, Kenneth C. Attributions and Conformity in Illicit Consumption: The Mediating Role of Group Attractiveness. Journal of Public Policy & Marketing. Spring 2001, Vol. 20 Issue 1, p84, 9p