Help Me Publish My Breakthrough Psychology Paper: The BEP Principle

By Nicolas B. Quiroz, MD – Independent Researcher, Founder of Itoshiro Zuna LLC

Hi everyone, my name is Nicolas Quiroz. I’m a first-generation American — my parents came to the United States legally from Mexico, carrying nothing but hope and an unshakable work ethic. Every step of my education and career has been built from the ground up. I went through medical school, trained in surgery, and later devoted myself to research and innovation because I believe that science should serve humanity — not profit.

Over the past several years, I’ve developed a new scientific and psychological framework called The BEP Principle (Belonging, Energy, and Prediction). This model explains why human beings — even the most intelligent among us — often cling to falsehoods, resist change, and choose belonging or comfort over truth. It bridges neuroscience, psychology, and social science into one idea: truth-seeking is not our default — it’s a state that requires both energy and belonging.

The paper has already been accepted for submission to a leading open-access journal, Frontiers in Psychology.

But here’s the challenge: the publishing fee is over $2,000 USD — and as an independent researcher with no institutional backing, no grants, and no sponsors, I have to cover that out of pocket. I’ve self-funded my patents, my research, and my company, Itoshiro Zuna LLC, through years of hard work.

I’m asking for help to raise $2,000 to cover the Article Processing Charge (APC) required for publication.

This funding will:

Make the research freely available to the world (open-access).

Support further development of independent, interdisciplinary science.

Prove that innovation doesn’t have to come from big institutions — it can come from those who simply refuse to give up.

If you’ve ever believed that science should be accessible — that voices outside the system deserve to be heard — please consider contributing. Every dollar helps bring this work one step closer to publication and helps me continue the journey my parents started when they came to this country with nothing but hope.

Thank you for believing in independent science, in perseverance, and in truth.

With gratitude,

Nicolas B. Quiroz, MD

Founder, Itoshiro Zuna LLC

Clovis, California