Dr. DiFonzo has an extensive body of work, publishing numerous articles, book chapters, and encyclopedia entries that explore psychological topics from a Christian worldview. His areas of research include the psychology of rumors, conspiracy theories, forgiveness, and the measurement of human flourishing. Among his major publications are the article A Christian Psychology of Rumor and a co-authored article with Dr. Eric Johnson titled Discerning Worldview Assumptions in Psychological Texts: A Primer for Christians in Psychology for the Journal of Psychology and Christianity.

Dr. DiFonzo's notable book Rumor Psychology: Social and Organizational Approaches (2007), co-authored with Prashant Bordia, provides an in-depth analysis of the complex mechanisms behind rumor formation and spread in both social and organizational settings. This seminal work explores how rumors are generated, transmitted, and managed, offering valuable insights into their impact on individuals and groups.

Additionally, DiFonzo authored The Watercooler Effect: The Indispensable Guide to Understanding and Harnessing the Power of Rumor (2009). This work, released by Avery (Penguin) and available in paperback since September 2009, serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding the influence of rumors in various contexts. It provides practical strategies for leveraging the power of rumors in organizational settings and offers a broader perspective on their role in social dynamics.

Throughout his career, Dr. DiFonzo has received numerous accolades. In 2024, he was honored with the Barbara S. Muller Memorial Award for Teaching Excellence from Roberts Wesleyan University. He also secured funding from the US National Science Foundation to study rumor propagation in social networks. In 2015, he won the Group and Organization Management Best Micro Paper Award for co-authoring a paper titled Rumor as Revenge in the Workplace, published in Group & Organization Management (2014). His book, Rumor Psychology: Social and Organizational Approaches, co-authored with P. Bordia, earned the 2007 Gold Medal in Psychology at the ForeWord Book of the Year Awards. Additionally, in 1994, he was awarded the Marianthi Georgoudi Award for his philosophical and theoretical contributions to psychology from Temple University.

Dr. DiFonzo is involved in several professional organizations, including the American Psychological Society, the Christian Association for Psychological Studies, and the Society of Personality and Social Psychology.

He has also served in consulting editorial roles for several academic journals such as the Journal of Psychology and Christianity, the Journal of Computers in Human Behavior, the Journal of Social Influence, and the Journal of Social Psychology. His expertise extends beyond academia, as he has contributed writings to The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.

Dr. DiFonzo resides in Rochester with his wife of 42 years in a multigenerational household that includes his children and grandchildren.

You can reach him at difonzo_nicholas@roberts.edu.