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Psychology

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Luke Galen

Specialization

 

Clinical Psychology

 

Courses Taught

• PSY 302 - Psychology of Adjustment
• PSY 303 - Abnormal Behavior
• PSY 311 - Controversial Issues in Psychology
• PSY 316 - Human Intimacy and Sexuality
• PSY 385 - Psychology of Religion
• PSY 452 - Counseling: Theories and Applications

Scholarly/ Research Interests

I am currently interested in the field of the psychology of religion in general, and the psychology of religious fundamentalism in particular. My recent work has examined religious fundamentalism from the area of social cognition. I have conducted projects focusing on religious text recall, the influence of fundamentalism on attitudes toward animal rights and evolution, the formation of interpersonal impressions based on others religiosity, and the Belief in a Just World.  Also, I study non-religious individuals and the process of apostasy. I also teach the course Human Intimacy and Sexuality and have an interest in the area of the interaction of religion and sexuality.

Recent Publications

Galen, L.W., & Kloet, J. (2011). Personality and social integration factors distinguishing non-religious from religious groups:  The importance of controlling for attendance and demographics. Archive for the Psychology of Religion, 33, 205-228.

Galen, L.W., & Kloet, J. (in press). Mental well-being in the religious and the non-religious: evidence for a curvilinear relationship. Mental Health, Religion, & Culture.

Galen, L.W., Smith, C., Knapp, N., Wyngarden, N. (2011). Perceptions of religious and nonreligious targets: Exploring the effects of perceivers’ religious fundamentalism. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41, 2123-2143.

Galen, L.W. & Miller, T.R. (2011). Perceived deservingness of outcomes as a function of religious fundamentalism and target responsibility. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 41, 2144-2164.

Galen, L.W., Wolfe, M.B.W., Deleeuw, J., & Wyngarden, N. (2009). Religious fundamentalism as schema: Influences on memory for religious information. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 39, 1163-1190. 

DeLeeuw, J., Galen, L.W., Aebersold, C., & Stanton, V. (2007) Support for animal rights as a function of belief in evolution and religious fundamentalism. Animals and Society, 15, 353-363.

Book Reviews and Recent Publications

Galen, L. W. (2011). [Review of the book The Fundamentalist Mindset]. International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 21, 237-241.

Galen, L.W. (2009). Psychology of religious extremism. [Review of the book Bad Faith: The danger of religious extremism]. Analysis of Social Issues and Public Policy, 9, 327-330.

Galen, L.W. (2009). Profiles of the Godless: Results from a survey of the non-religious. Free Inquiry, 29, 41-45.

Organizations

I am the faculty advisor for the Grand Valley State University Center For Inquiry on campus group. Summaries of several of my recent presentations can be found at: http://www.freethoughtassociation.org/pastmeetings.htm