Kyle J. Messick, PhD

Kyle J. Messick, PhD

Assistant Professor, Psychology

Library Room 252

One University Boulevard

Bluffton, SC 29909

Office: 843-208-8327

messickk@uscb.edu

CV_Messick.pdf

I am a social psychologist specializing in psychology of religion and music culture studies. Within psychology of religion, I have researched atheism, the functions of the secular sacred, and I’ve studied prayer using novel approaches, including eye-tracking technology and a mock fMRI. I directed a documentary on the use of labyrinths as spiritual tools, and I assisted in a second documentary exploring the spirituality of buskers in Las Vegas. I manage the website for the International Association of the Psychology of Religion, and previously managed the websites for Division 36 of the American Psychological Association and The Religious Studies Project.

I taught at Coventry University in England for three years and Ivy Tech for nearly two years before joining USCB. I am an accomplished author, having been published in multiple books and journals including by reputable publishers Routledge and Brill, and my works have drawn media attention, as demonstrated by an interview with British tabloid The Guardian in 2020. I am a vocal proponent of open science practices and creating global opportunities for students, as shown by my service on the International Programs Committee. Lastly, I am a leader in studying metal music culture from a psychological perspective.