The Social Acceptance Theory is the thought that first year students will do anything necessary in order to be embraced by their peers. Leaving home and their families, who have been their support system for their entire life, is a challenge. It requires first year students to find a new support system. Support systems are extremely important to one’s well-being so establishing one is essential. Many social interactions outside of the classroom will come in the form of parties and other social gatherings. Many times, alcohol will play a role (possibly a big one) in these settings. There is a common thought that drinking is a large part of college and non-drinkers are often thought of as outsiders.
In college, drinking is considered to be a social norm. It’s just something that everyone does. It often feels like students have to conform to a social norm in order to fit in. For many first year students, this standard is drinking.
Many students are looking to go out and have a good time on the weekends. It seems that that task can be a bit tougher if a student is looking to not drink. Students are often excluded or looked down upon if they make the choice to not drink. Students then feel the pressure to drink in order to fit in with their peers or be socially accepted.
Being accepted by your peers during your freshman year is extremely important. Students have left their families for the first time in their lives. They no longer have a support system around them every day. They are essentially facing one of the largest parts of their lives alone. Establishing a new group of friends who can act as a support system is of upmost importance.
Students should be able to find a new support system without having to alter who they are or what their beliefs are. A true support system is accepting of a person for who they are not what they do. Students should be more accepting of students who want to be social and party but do not drink.
The Social Acceptance Theory could be used to create a positive outcome. What if the social norm was to get straight A’s? I think that students would be more inclined to apply themselves if the majority of their peers were successful. That’s a lofty goal but in theory it would work. Instead of judging each other on how much a student can or likes to drink, we should look at each other holistically. We could use social norms to help each other grow and improve and to become the best versions of ourselves.
