Who needs ‘ontgroening’?

This being my fifth year at Study Association Kraket, I was lucky enough to have experienced special bonds being formed within the association. Some student association members would call us ‘Knor’ for only being part of just a study association, but I think we should be grateful that we can still form bonds for life without having to be humiliated for several weeks. But what are exactly the contributing factors to forming these bonds within our association? Why don’t we need several weeks of ‘ontgroening’? How were friendships formed in Kraket and is there a formula to find your people within your study association? Let’s find out by discussing 5 important themes that contribute to forming bonds for life.

Disclaimer: this article is solely based on observations that are backed by science. This research can not be treated as a scientific research itself.

New environment

Starting university or joining a new association like Kraket can feel like being thrown into the deep end. Suddenly, you're surrounded by unfamiliar faces, and that innate human need to belong kicks in (Baumeister & Leary, 1995). But the thing is; we are all in the same boat! We are all starting a new study, most of us in an entirely new city in an entirely different school. However, we are more than just a random collection of students; we are a community with shared interests and goals. From the get-go, you're surrounded by people who "get" you, who are passionate about the same things. This shared identity acts like a social glue, making it easier to strike up conversations, form study groups, and feel like you're part of something bigger.

Forced groups

Okay, "forced" might sound a bit dramatic, but there's a really big plus when it comes to randomized introduction groups! You are really forced to hang out with a certain group of people for a week and combined with that new environment, connections are formed more easily. Putting everyone in random groups is like a social experiment based on the contact hypothesis (Pettigrew & Tropp, 2006). By throwing you into a team with other members, the perfect conditions are created to form bonds. And not only the introduction groups help make this happen, but committees are also groups in which you are ‘forced’ to make something happen. Researcher Mark van Duijn states that these forced groups are comparable with sports teams; coming together to strive towards one goal together creates bonds. 

Quality time

Throughout the entire year, Kraket offers numerous activities, where you can see your new friends. It is the perfect place to make memories, on which you can look back numerous years after. Speaking from my own experience, Kraket activities were the foundation of mine and my friends’ memories and the pictures taken immortalize these memories. Everytime we see each other again on a new activity, either new memories are being created, or we laugh about our memories of somewhat four years ago. Making memories is the foundation of friendship and you can build endlessly on a solid foundation.

Common enemy

History teaches us that when a group of people has a common enemy, they are unstoppable. They start to help each other, fight for each other and can bond over common struggles. I would not say we Econometricians have a common group of people we loathe (except for Aureus maybe ;) ), but there are certain subjects that can be viewed as the main culprit for us. You can know no one, but when discussing Analysis 1, you could suddenly talk for 30 minutes on how annoying those delta-epsilon proofs are. It really gives a sense of “We’re all in this together”. Suddenly, you're not just individual students struggling through a tough course, you're a team.

The incubation effect

It turns out that simply being around people a lot can actually make you friends. Psychologists call this the "mere exposure effect," and it's a powerful force in shaping our social connections. Think about it: Econometrics isn't exactly known for its light workload. We're constantly thrown together in lectures and tutorials. This constant contact creates a kind of "incubation effect" for friendships. It's not just about shared experiences, though those are important. It's about the subtle ways we influence each other through daily interactions. We pick up on each other's quirks, learn each other's study habits, and get into interesting discussions when we are all distracted. This constant interaction builds familiarity and trust, laying the foundation for deeper connections. So, while those endless hours at the VU might seem soul-sucking at times, they're actually a secret weapon in creating friends for life.

Looking back, it's clear that Kraket has been much more than just a study association. It's been a place to find your people, to build lasting friendships, and to create memories that you'll cherish long after graduation. And while those "Knor" comments might sting a little, they miss the point entirely. Kraket proves that you don't need hazing or humiliation to forge strong bonds. Shared passions, common goals, and the simple act of spending time together are all it takes to create a community that feels like family.