Luke Galen

Dr. Luke Galen is a Clinical Professor in the Department of Psychology at Grand Valley State University (GVSU). His specialization spans Clinical Psychology, Social Psychology, and Personality Psychology. He teaches courses such as PSY 101 (Introductory Psychology), PSY 311 (Controversial Issues in Psychology), PSY 316 (Psychology of Human Intimacy and Sexuality), and PSY 452 (Counseling Theories and Applications).

• Education:
  • B.A., University of Nebraska
  • M.A., Ph.D., Wayne State University

Dr. Galen’s research focuses on the psychology of religion and secularity, examining moral motivation, mental well-being, and prosociality in religious and non-religious populations. His work explores how individuals attribute morality to religious versus secular factors, emphasizing secular mechanisms in well-being and social behavior.

His recent publications address topics such as the effects of religious belief on prosociality, secular contributions to well-being, and critiques of religious prosociality research. These studies span subfields including religious prosociality, secular ethics, cultural secularism, and the intersection of belief systems with social behavior.

Scientific Awards:

• Forkosch Award for best Free Inquiry article of 2013