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.