Psychology Faculty Publications

Behavioral Shifts in Students' Awareness and Reactions to the Homeless

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-2010

Journal Title

Journal of Social Distress and the Homeless

Volume

19

Issue

3/4

First Page

98

Last Page

128

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/105307810805365099

Abstract

In attempts to foster empathy and altruistic responses among higher-education students towards, for example, the homeless and impoverished, a number of universities have been experimenting with alternative teaching methods than simple didactic instruction. In this study, we explored the reactions among 23 undergraduate students at a university in the Midwest that employed a required “poverty immersion” weekend as part of course pedagogy to instill personal connections and responses to the indigent. Through semi-structured interviews, we queried the subsequent behavioral responses of the students one month post-immersion. Specifically, some students reported involvement with urban services beyond the requirements of their course: a novel experience for some and a rekindled dedication for others. In addition, some students showed modifications in their spending habits, increases in charitable giving and decreases in frivolous expenditures.

Keywords

Homeless, homelessness, altruism, empathy, higher education

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