-Alcohol is a major enabler of hookups. The students that Bogle interviewed believe that drinking lowers their inhibitions, thereby making a hookup possible. This finding is backed up by other studies that demonstrate “that alcohol consumption is correlated with the decision to have sexual intercourse as well as engaging in so-called risky sexual behavior, such as having casual sex.”
-Friends matter. Bogle found that a student’s circle of friends “was a good predictor of how entrenched he or she was in hooking up.”
-Students overestimate their peers’ level of sexual activity and number of partners. In turn, they judge themselves against these inaccurate standards.
-The hookup culture carries with it a host of health concerns, from binge drinking to STDs to sexual abuse.
In today’s fast-paced world, knowing the nature of a problem is half the battle in coming up with a solution. Parents who want an insight into their children’s campus life should consider picking up a copy of Hooking Up as a first step to helping their college-age children make their college experience healthy and fulfilling.