Abstract
This study examines the interactions of a fraternity and sorority alum personal and social development within the context of their social student organization membership. The
dissonance between being accepted by their peers and keeping a personal moral compass
is a complex problem for students trying to navigate their first year of college. This
grounded theory study aims to understand the experiences of fraternity and sorority alum
members and their reflections on the influence of the environment and interactions with
other members. The study will explore the context of their experience and the impact on
their independent decision-making and issues within the group. There is insufficient
understanding of how fraternity and sorority student organizations impact individual
members, their need to be a part of the group, and their impact on their well-being. There
remains a gap in encouraging independent thinking among fraternity and sorority
members in group interaction and the influence of these groups upon their members.
keywords: groupthink, decision-making, fraternity and sorority, influence, environment, alums, grounded theory