Men hate the extreme rituals associated with stag dos, according to new study

Participants bow down to peer pressure despite seemingly feeling scared and degraded, research suggests

Stag dos often involve heavy drinking (File photo) (Marco Di Lauro/Getty Images)

Men do not enjoy the debauchery or the extreme rituals and humiliation associated with most modern stag dos, according to a new study.

A traditional pre-wedding stag do now often involves excessive drinking and ritual humiliation. The report, written by Daniel Briggs from Madrid University and Anthony Ellis of Salford University, found that men bow down to peer pressure despite feeling scared and degraded.

After looking at a series of stag dos across Eastern Europe, England and a Spanish Island, the researchers concluded men would often go along with the plans just to keep up with others in the group.

The study, which was published in the journal Deviant Behaviour, claims men on the stag do are “performing” a role rather than actually enjoying the event.

Dr Ellis, one of the authors of the study, said many feel as though they would be missing out if they didn’t join in.

"We found this palpable feeling that people felt they had to enjoy themselves and if they didn't enjoy themselves they were missing out, even if what they were actually experiencing was quite frightening,” Dr Ellis told The Telegraph.

"People told us that they had had quite troubling experiences and the general atmosphere is one of intense pressure to over-consume."

The report suggests that men reproduce exaggerated aspects of their behaviour that is expected of them in an attempt to have a story to tell in later life.