Psychology Major and Adviser Presented at Regional Meeting

Westminster College junior psychology major Devon Struthers and Dr. Jamie McMinn, associate professor of psychology, presented "Stolen Thunder in Dating Relationships" at the Midwestern Psychological Association meeting May 6-8 in Chicago.

McMinn explained that stolen thunder occurs when one reveals incriminating information about oneself before someone else can.  For example, mock jurors are more lenient on defendants who reveal negative information about themselves as opposed to hearing the same information from opposing counsel.

The research for the paper involved 88 participants who read about two dating partners who attended a party and one partner kissed another partygoer.  The partner or a witness revealed the misbehavior to the other partner.  Stealing thunder enhanced evaluations of the male, but not the female, partner.

Struthers is a son of Lisa Schreck of Carlisle and Donald Struthers of Newville and a graduate of Big Spring High School.

Struthers received a travel/presentation grant from Westminster's Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning to attend the meeting.

The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was created to enrich undergraduate education at Westminster through advancing world-class teaching as well as by participating in collaborations that address community and regional needs including strengthening K-12 education.  The Undergraduate Research Initiative provides funding for students to conduct research and to present their research at regional and national conferences.  Visit www.westminster.edu/drinko for more information about the Drinko Center and its programs.

McMinn, who has been with Westminster since 2003, earned an undergraduate degree from Emory & Henry College and a master's and Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Contact McMinn at (724) 946-7121 or email mcminnjg@westminster.edu for additional information.