Page 83 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 20

Nicholas DiFonzo earned a Ph.D. in Social & Organiza�onal Psycho-
logy from Temple University in 1994. He is Associate Professor of Psy-
chology at Roberts Wesleyan University (NY, US), where he teaches
courses in Social Psychology, Research Methods, and Psychology and
Theology. His research interests focus on Chris�an worldview-based
transforma�ve approaches to psychology, worldview influence in
psychological measurement, and the psychology of rumor.

difonzo_nicholas@roberts.edu

Former contribu�ons:
Nicholas DiFonzo h�ps://emcapp.ignis.de/18/#p=31
(USA)
h�ps://emcapp.ignis.de/14/#p=49

"Why would you describe yourself as

a Chris�an psychologist?"

Ques�ons to Nicholas DiFonzo (USA)

May I first ask how it came about that you stu- ding brief descrip�ons in the Dic�onary of Oc-
died psychology? cupa�onal Titles, I saw „Social Psychologist“
Yes. I would say that there was a moment in and immediately recognized myself even my
the midst of a zig-zag career path where I felt childhood self in the descrip�on. I felt it as a
an overwhelming sense of call to be a social calling. And even though I was not in the typi-
psychologist. cal place in life for graduate school (a wife,
In the 1980s, I began work as an environmental three children, a house), my wife was very sup-
engineer; a marvelous occupa�on, but not por�ve and a series of rather unusual events
much in line with who I am. So, I started taking occured that enabled me the opportunity en-
masters level courses at night in counseling; I ter a PhD program in social psychology.
felt like a fish entering water I loved what I was S�ll, decisions such as these were (and are)
learning. The program was billed as „existen�- very much exercises in dependence.
al-humanis�c“ with no religious elements, and
I found myself challenged and eager to under- What was the focus of your study/training?
stand it in Christ. I remember reading much re- For most of the last 30 years, I have focused on
levant Chris�an literature at that �me in paral- the psychology of rumor (e.g., why people be-
lel with my coursework; for me it was a double- lieve and share rumors, how they become
educa�on. more and less accurate, how to manage harm-
At the same �me, my wife and I became invol- ful ones). The tradi�onal defini�on of rumor is
ved in star�ng and running a Crisis Pregnancy an „unverified statement in circula�on.“ Of
Center a Chris�an ministry that helped women course, this begs the ques�on of what cons�-
in unplanned pregnancy situa�ons and I soon tutes „unverified“ a very good ques�on inde-
le� engineering to direct this new ministry. I ed!
did this for seven years, and I am thankful to
the Lord for that chance to serve and to grow. It was only a�er I became a Chris�an psycholo-
I sensed, however, that my gi�s lay in a some- gist that I was able to resolve this ques�on wi-
what different direc�on. One day while rea- thin a Chris�an worldview. Rumors always in-

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