معرفی
Brian P. Meier is a Professor in the Department of Psychology within the College of Arts and Sciences at Gettysburg College. His research program investigates the intersection of cognitive psychology and religious studies through the lens of conceptual metaphor theory.
His primary research interests include embodied cognition, religious metaphor processing, and individual differences in cognitive styles. Meier employs experimental methodologies including implicit reaction time tasks to explore how abstract concepts like God are grounded in physical experiences such as vertical space (high/low), brightness (light/dark), and anthropomorphism. His work demonstrates consistent metaphorical associations in religious cognition that operate independently of self-reported religiosity levels.
Recent publications reveal a strong focus on metaphorical structures in religious cognition, with recurring themes in
- vertical spatial metaphors for divinity
- light/darkness associations in theological concepts
- anthropomorphic representations of God
- cardiocentric versus cephalocentric self-location in religious contexts
Meier maintains active research collaborations with scholars at University of Houston, particularly with Adam K. Fetterman, producing multiple joint publications between 2019-2022. His work appears in specialized journals focusing on the psychology of religion and cognitive science.
