As part of an experimental psychology course, psychology majors Sarah Gregoire, Renee Lajoie, Stephen Tucker and Don Ingrim developed an experiment to investigate whether there exists any gender differences in altruistic behavior.

Forty participants, 20 males and 20 females, were involved in the study. Each participant was told he/she would be participating in an unrelated study. The experimenter then excused himself from the room, informing the participant that another participant would be arriving shortly. When the second person, the confederate posing as another participant, entered the room he/she dropped 10 books. Altruism was measured as the number of books the participant helped the confederate pick up.

Their findings?

“We found that women participants were more altruistic then men towards the male confederate, whereas both women and men participants were altruistic towards the female confederate,” explained Tucker.

Clarkson combines two distinctive strengths that benefit students: personalized teaching and high-powered research. As a small, undergraduate-centered university, we focus on teaching. Our professors get to know students as individuals, but also conduct research in areas of vital importance — and involve undergraduates in the process. Clarkson takes a real-world approach to learning, including the collaboration and teamwork that come with well-designed research projects.

At Clarkson, every psychology major must complete at least one full semester of directed research, volunteer counseling, or clinical internship. Another opportunity for dynamic real-world learning is through industrial internships. These experiences provide you with the opportunity to apply information learned in the classroom, as well as a chance to make a creative contribution to science and your own future. Clinical and industrial internship opportunities for Clarkson psychology majors include, but are not limited to: