Patrick McClanahan, Ph.D.
William (Patrick) McClanahan III is head of the Max Planck Partner Group Individual Differences and the Perceptual Process in Criminal Decision-Making at the University of Alabama. He conducts research at the intersection of criminology, cutting-edge technology, and psychology, zeroing in on offender decision-making and deterrence theory, using Virtual Reality (VR) methods and AI. In addition to advancing theory, McClanahan builds immersive VR environments to understand the nuances of criminal intent. The Virtual Burglary Project, which brought VR simulations to incarcerated individuals, exemplifies the innovative approach to exploring how environmental cues influence criminal choices. This work combines rich qualitative data with precise VR-based observations.
Main Focus
- Situational correlates of crime
- Offender decision-making
- Offender-based research
- Survey research
- Experimental methods
- Virtual reality
Curriculum Vitae
Professional Appointments
- Since 2026: Head of the Max Planck Partner Group “Individual Differences and the Perceptual Process in Criminal Decision-Making” (funding secured until 2030)
- Since 2024: Assistant Professor, Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Alabama
Professional Experience
- 2021–2024: Postdoc, Department of Criminology, Max Planck Institute for the Study of Crime, Security and Law
Education
- 2021: Ph.D., Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
- 2017: MPhil, Social and Developmental Psychology, University of Cambridge, UK
- 2014: BS, Psychology, Minor Criminal Law, Roanoke College, Virginia
