Presley McGarry

Dr. McGarry is an Assistant Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Norwich University, currently in her second year. Her research focuses on the biosocial factors underlying antisocial and deviant behavior. Specifically, she explores how psychological and physiological processes—such as autonomic nervous system function—interact to shape emotional regulation, susceptibility to cognitive biases, and stress responses, particularly in the context of misinformation, disinformation, and online radicalization. By examining the mind-body connection through tools like EEG and ECG, Dr. McGarry investigates how these physiological processes might contribute to an individual’s response to social stimuli and risk-taking behaviors.

Dr. McGarry's work also involves the use of an AI-based Natural Language Processing model to analyze the rhetoric and influence of mis/disinformation online. In addition, Dr. McGarry leads a joint initiative on democratic resilience with Helmuth Schmidt University through Norwich’s Peace and War Center, where she develops research and think pieces on sustaining democratic systems amidst challenges such as misinformation and political polarization.

In her interdisciplinary work, Dr. McGarry has managed several federally funded research projects from agencies like the DOD, ARI, and AFOSR, contributing to the development of new methodologies for understanding the intersections of psychology, physiology, and illicit behavior. She has rebranded and led a university lab focused on these topics and has published over a dozen articles on issues such as misinformation, radicalism, and military decision-making. Outside of work, Dr. McGarry is a devoted servant to Wednesday, her Siamese cat, and Asparagus, her leopard gecko.

PhD Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
MA Criminology & Criminal Justice, University of Massachusetts, Lowell
BA Psychology, University of Nebraska, Lincoln

CRIM209 Research Methods
CRIM309 Advanced Research Methods
CJ410 Senior Seminar
CJ104 Professionalism in Criminology and Criminal Justice
CJ400 Seerist Certification Course

McGarry, P., Shortland, N., & Bedoya, A. (2025). Angry, anxious, and online: The role of reinforcement sensitivity theory and trait aggression on the impact of exposure to violent extremist content online. Psychology of Violence, 15(1), 32–42. 

McGarry, P., Shortland, N., Anastasio, N., & Palmieri, M. (2024). The Behavioral Inhibition System and Engagement With, and Influence By, COVID-19 and Election-Based Misinformation. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 39(1-2), 133-156. 

McGarry, P. (2023). Examining the Intersection of the Psychological and Physiological Aspects of Activism and Radicalism Following Exposure to Misinformation (Publication No. 30632139) [Doctoral dissertation, University of Massachusetts Lowell]. ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.