Kyle
Fiore
Law
PhD CANDIDATE
MORAL PSYCHOLOGIST
Imagination & Cognition Lab
University at Albany, SUNY
K
I'm a moral psychologist at the intersection of social-cognitive psychology and ethical philosophy trying to make the world a better place for living beings now and in the future. In particular, I study the cognitive, affective, and moral architecture of exceptional altruism (e.g., Effective Altruism, Longtermism), with the ultimate goal of harnessing insights gleaned from the laboratory to help inspire real-world action towards the betterment of our shared future.
Research
Effective Altruism
The ethical philosophy and increasingly-popular social movement of effective altruism aims to maximize the impact of our efforts in creating positive change. My research explores the cognitive, affective, and moral architecture underlying this altruistic approach, as well as examines lay perceptions of effective altruism.
Longtermism
The future of humanity hangs in the balance of numerous existential threats such as climate change, increasing wealth-inequality and unaligned AI. Luckily, there exists a general consensus that such threats can be mitigated by present day action. My research explores the psychological mechanisms that predict prioritizing the betterment of our longterm collective future.
Expanding Empathy
People generally exhibit bias towards extending empathy to those who are closer and more similar to themselves. Nonetheless, real-world extraordinary altruists exhibit heightened patterns of empathic responding beyond the typical boundaries of social and physical distance. My research seeks to understand how empathy and altruism might be expanded in ordinary people to help improve collective welfare.
Teaching
1 / Statistics
With extensive experience teaching statistics to undergraduates in psychology and the social sciences, I have instructed over 25 sections across Vassar College, Siena College, and the University at Albany. My approach emphasizes clarity, practical application, and student engagement, enabling students to confidently analyze and interpret data. By providing real-world examples and fostering an interactive learning environment, I strive to equip students with the skills necessary for statistical proficiency in their academic and professional journeys.
2 / Social Psychology
I sometimes offer a course in social psychology during Winter Sessions at the University at Albany, employing both in-person and online formats. My teaching approach emphasizes active learning and practical application of social psychological principles. By creating an engaging classroom environment, I aim to inspire students to explore the fascinating dynamics that influence human behavior in social contexts.
3 / General Psychology
I have recently started teaching general psychology to first-year students at Siena College, building on my previous experience teaching the subject at the College of Saint Rose. Through an engaging and interactive approach, I strive to introduce students to the fundamental concepts and theories in psychology, fostering a deeper understanding of the human mind, brain, and behavior. By creating a supportive learning environment, I aim to inspire students to develop a lifelong curiosity for psychology and its real-world applications.
4 / Industrial/Organizational Psychology
While my primary focus is on teaching statistics, social psychology and general psychology, I also have experience teaching industrial/organizational psychology at the University at Albany. Although it is not a course I teach frequently, I value the opportunity to delve into the fascinating realm of understanding human behavior in the workplace. Through an applied and practical approach, I aim to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of organizational dynamics and contribute to the science of workplace productivity and well-being.
Publications, Preprints, and Papers in Progress
PUBLICATIONS
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Syropoulos, S., & Law, K.F. (2024). Increased perceived safety in day-to-day life relates to critical national identification. In Press at Group Processes & Intergroup Relations.
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Syropoulos, S., & Law, K. F. (2024). Cultural tightness and its association with national levels of peace: Evidence from a cross-national investigation. In Press at Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology.
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Law, K. F.*, Syropoulos, S.*, & Young, L. (2024). The case for longtermism: Concern for the far future as a catalyst for pro-climate action. Npj Climate Action, 3(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-024-00110-8.
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Law, K. F.*, Syropoulos, S.*, & Young, L. (2024). Longtermist education interventions increase concern for and action to protect future generations. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 19485506241228465. https://doi.org/10.1177/19485506241228465
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Law, K. F.*, Amormino, P.*, Marsh, A. A., & O’Connor, B. B. (2024). Ethical reasoning versus empathic bias: A false dichotomy? Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 28(1), 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tics.2023.10.006
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Syropoulos, S.*, Law, K. F.*, & Young, L. (2024). National differences in age and future-oriented indicators relate to environmental performance. Sustainability, 16(1), Article 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/su16010276
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Law, K. F.*, Syropoulos, S.*, & Young, L. (2023). Why do longtermists care about protecting the environment? An investigation on the underlying mechanisms of pro-climate policy support. Sustainability, 15(24), Article 24. https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416732
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Law, K. F., Campbell, D., & Gaesser, B. (2022). Biased benevolence:The perceived morality of effective altruism across social distance. Personality & Social Psychology Bulletin, 1461672211002773.
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Fowler, Z., Law, K. F., & Gaesser, B. (2021). Against empathy bias: The moral value of equitable empathy. Psychological Science, 32(5), 766–779. https://doi.org/10.1177/0956797620979965
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Muraven, M., Buczny, J., & Law, K. F. (2019). Ego depletion: Theory and evidence. The Oxford Handbook of Human Motivation, 113-134.
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PREPRINTS
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Law, K.F., Syropoulos, S., Coleman, M., Gainsburg, I., & O’Connor, B.B. (2023). Moral future thinking: Does the moral circle stand the test of time?. Under Revision at Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin.**
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Syropoulos, S., Law, K.F., Kraft-Todd, G., Mah, A., Markowitz, E., & Young, L. (2023). Responsibility to future generations: A strategy for combatting climate change across political divides. Under Revision at British Journal of Social Psychology.**
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Law, K. F.*, Syropoulos, S.*, Young, L., & O'Connor, B. B. (2024). What we owe the present: The perceived morality of longtermism and helping distant future people. Under Review at Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.**
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Law, K.F., Syropoulos, S., O'Connor, B.B., & Young, L. (2024). The probabilistic price of life across time: Generational and probabilistic distance render a life today worth more than ten tomorrow. Under Review at Journal of Experimental Psychology: General.**
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Law, K.F.* & Syropoulos, S.*, Amormino, P., & Young, L. (2023). Mapping the personality of (exceptional) intergenerational concern. Under Review at Personality and Individual Differences.**
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Law, K.F.* & Syropoulos, S.*, Coleman, M., & Young, L. (2023). A future beyond ourselves: Can self-oriented prospection bridge responsibility for future generations?. Under Review.**
Law, K.F.* & Syropoulos, S.*, Kraft-Todd, G., & Young, L. (2023). The longtermism beliefs scale: Measuring lay beliefs for protecting humanity’s longterm future. Under Review.**
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PAPERS IN PROGRESS​
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Fowler, Z., Law, K. F., Bontkes, O., Wardell, V., Palombo, D.J., & O'Connor, B. B. (2024). Feeling out the future together: The effects of co-imagination on emotion generation and synchrony. In Preparation.
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Law, K.F., Syropoulos, S., Amormino, P., Kraft-Todd, G., Young, L., Marsh, A., & O’Connor, B.B. (2023). Compassion cartography: Mapping the cognitive, affective, & moral landscape of exceptional care. In Preparation.
Law, K.F., Rottman, J., & O’Connor, B.B. (2023). Ignoring the farthest humans for the trees: moral circles, mind perception, and moral judgments of altruism. In Preparation.
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Law, K.F., Cleveland, M.A., Law, K.F., Horner, A.A., Yartey, P., D’Armiento, J.M., & Goldklang, M.P. (2021). Hospitalized non-vaccinated COVID patients with altered CM phenotype have higher 30 and 60 day respiratory and all-cause mortality. Research Gate Preprint.
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Note. *Denotes Joint First-Authorship **Denotes Manuscript Under Review or Revision
CONTACT
I am open to collaborate on research or just to chat. Shoot me an email, message me on Linkedin or @me on Twitter. ​