Daniel Palafox

Daniel Palafox is a psychology professor who teaches Introduction to Psychology at Mt. San Antonio College. He also leads a Learning and Memory laboratory at California State University, Fullerton. At Cerritos College, he teaches Statistics, Research Methods, and the Psychology of Oppression, including dual enrollment sections for high school students. In all his courses, he endeavors to make research and statistical concepts accessible to students, many of whom encounter these topics for the first time. He employs practical laboratory exercises, worked examples, and step-by-step practice with SPSS and Jamovi to facilitate learning.

Daniel earned his M.A. in Psychology from Claremont Graduate University, where he completed doctoral coursework under Dr. William D. Crano and earned a Certificate in Inclusive Excellence in College Teaching. His master's thesis was a preregistered experiment on psychological reactance and persuasion. He also served as a course assistant for Senior Thesis in Psychology at Scripps College. His research interests include social influence, substance use, and measurement. He has analyzed national survey data on how COVID-19 affected adolescent substance use and mental health. He is currently studying why addiction counselors leave the field, focusing on burnout, moral distress, and conflicts between treatment philosophies. He is also developing new ways to measure social awkwardness, including eye-tracking during structured conversations.

In the classroom, Daniel is committed to accessible, inclusive teaching. He builds courses with clear structure and support while maintaining the rigor students need for later coursework. He believes students learn psychology best by doing it. His courses center on applying ideas to real life and on designing, conducting, and writing up real studies.