Social Psychology and Daily Experience Lab Team
Abe Rutchick, Principal Investigator
Abe received his Ph.D. from UC Santa Barbara in 2005, then spent three years as a visiting assistant professor at Syracuse University. He’s been at CSUN since then. In his free time - what’s left of it after chasing his kids around - he likes to travel (when there’s not a pandemic going on), cook food and mix drinks, and play poker.
John Walkiewicz, Graduate Student
John received his B.S. in Psychobiology from UCLA and is a second year graduate student in the Psychological Science Program. His interests lay in the intersections of moral psychology, social cognition, and technology. More specifically, he aims to explore how emerging technologies (e.g., LLMs) might alter our every day experiences. Currently, he plans to pursue a Ph.D. in Social Psychology
In his free time he tries to stay active, loves a good movie, and is an avid NYT minigames player.
Stephanie Cinnater, Graduate Student
Stephanie is currently in the Psychological Sciences program as a first-generation student. She is significantly interested in conducting research in the psychology of technology. In Dr. Rutchick’s lab, she focuses on human reactions towards robots. She is also conducting her thesis in Dr.Ruvalcaba's lab regarding attributions towards AI feedback and judgements using attributional ambiguity theory and design.
Stephanie is interested in conducting research in applied settings for technology. During her free time she enjoys reading manga, cooking/baking, shopping, and cosplay!
Tessa Jackson, Graduate Student
Tessa is a second year graduate student in the Clinical Psychology Fieldwork program. Her research interests include social media and its impact on well-being, and ADHD/ASD populations. She plans to continue her studies in a clinical psychology Ph.D. program, to prepare her to be a researcher and practitioner.
Outside of research she enjoys singing, spending time with friends, and baking.
Ronald Gutierrez, Graduate Student
Ron is a second year graduate student in the Psychological Science program at California State University, Northridge. He is currently involved in the Visual Information Sciences & Neuroscience (VISN) Lab and the Social Psychology and Daily Experience (SPADE) Lab. He has a research interest in Cognitive Psychology and neuroscience. Specifically the intersection of emerging/modern day technology on people’s quality-of-life. Currently, he is interested in commercial electroencephalograms (EEG) and their usage alongside virtual reality (VR) devices and mindfulness with the goal of reducing anxiety. His goal is to continue conducting research, to gain his Ph.D in Cognitive Psychology or Neuroscience, and to become a professor at an R1 or R2 research institution.
In his spare time, he actively enjoys traveling, trying different dishes from various cultures, collecting Yu-Gi-Oh cards, and playing video games.
Victoria Fawcette, Graduate Student
Victoria is a first year graduate student in the Psychological Science program at California State University, Northridge. She is currently a part of the Applied Decision Laboratory (ADL) and the Social Psychology and Daily Experience (Spade) Lab. Victoria is interested in social and cognitive psychology, with a focus on how individual and societal factors influence behavior and decision-making. My work explores the psychological underpinnings of conspiratorial ideation, political orientation, loneliness, and trust in government. I am particularly drawn to understanding how these variables shape our perceptions, beliefs, and choices in complex social environments.
In her free time she teaches yoga classes, cooks, and crochets.
Cole Parkin, Graduate Student
Cole is an incoming first-year graduate student in the Psychological Science program. His research interests include the measurement and dynamics of personality and moral-psychological constructs (such as grit, self-control, compassion, and moral disengagement), with a focus on how these traits influence relationships, meaning-making, and individual differences in motivation and attachment. He is also a member of the Applied Psychometrics Lab with Dr. Ainsworth utilizing the application of advanced statistical methods and measurement models to validate established measures.
Outside of research he enjoys playing guitar, reading, and sports.
Julian Hou, Graduate Student
Julian is a first-year graduate student in the Psychological Science program. His research interests center on cognitive psychology, with a focus on decision-making, choice, and the cognitive biases introduced by addiction. He is particularly interested in how addiction shapes perception and drives maladaptive patterns of decision-making, with the aim of advancing our understanding of the cognitive mechanisms that underlie these processes.
Outside of research, he enjoys playing board games, watching youtube documentaries, and playing basketball.
Shak Ghacha, Research Assistant
Shak is an incoming junior at California State University, Northridge, majoring in Psychology. His interests focus on the believability of disinformation across different media formats, as well as the intersection of neuroscience and clinical psychology. Shak’s long-term goal is to become a clinical psychologist with a strong socio-neuro-behavioral focus, integrating insights from social, biological, and behavioral perspectives to form an interdisciplinary approach to treatment and human well-being.
Outside of academics, he is a working actor, an avid swimmer, and enjoys watching films.