Dr. CRAIG D. PARKS

                                                                       
Welcome!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
                                                               
I am a professor of social psychology at Washington State University.  This website is designed to provide information on my research,
teaching, and background.

My basic research interest is in the dynamics of how people work together to accomplish tasks, especially when there is a temptation to                                                 Research Interests
just sit back and let others do the work.  Why do people forgo the temptation and instead help with the common good, and what can we
do to encourage more people to be more giving more frequently?  More specifically, I focus on factors that are particular to the individual
that might relate to cooperation: Personality traits, individual differences, and ways of thinking about the situation.  I also look at reactions
in the aftermath of the task: How do people react, and alter their behaviors, after learning that the group has failed or succeeded, and seeing
how others behaved?  The kinds of group situations that I study are rife throughout society, so this work has considerable potential for
improving the functioning of real groups and helping increase participation in environmental conservation, charitable giving, and community
engagement.

Use the links to the right to get more information on my research, download PDF files of my papers, access class information, or learn more
about my background and interests. 

Thank you for visiting.  If you would like to get in touch with me, please email me at parkscd@wsu.edu , or postal mail to Department of
Psychology, Washington State University, PO Box 644820, Pullman, WA  99164.