The concept I feel like rush is larping

Not even saying this as an insult, but from a sociology perspective, fraternity and sorority recruitment is basically organized social role-playing.

Sociologist Erving Goffman described social interaction through “dramaturgical theory,” where people manage impressions by performing different versions of themselves depending on the social setting. Rush makes this extremely obvious. PNMs perform an ideal version of themselves, while active members perform an ideal version of their chapter. Both groups are simultaneously trying to appear authentic while also following a ton of unwritten social rules.

You have specific clothing, houses as physical “stages,” symbols and letters, rituals, prescribed conversation topics, rankings, social cues, and expectations for how people should act. Even concepts like “fit” are partly based on whether someone’s behavior, appearance, interests, and communication style match the existing culture of the group.

There’s also symbolic interactionism: letters, chants, houses, bids, rankings, etc. only carry so much meaning because everyone involved collectively agrees that they mean something. Recruitment also creates strong in-group/out-group identities, where people can go from strangers to identifying themselves as members of a specific chapter within days.

So obviously Greek life isn’t literally LARPing, but sociologically the comparison is kind of accurate. Everyone enters a temporary structured social environment, adopts a role, follows its norms and rituals, evaluates everyone else’s performance, and then some of those temporary roles become real social identities.