Dr. Anastasio is a social psychologist who researches several of the ways in which media can subtly but powerfully shape our perceptions of self and others, our opinions, and our behaviors. She is particularly interested in documenting media phenomena that we may not readily recognize (such as how groups and opinions are portrayed) and the effects of exposure to those phenomena. She also researches the personality trait of psychological entitlement (the feeling that one "deserves more than others") to see how those who are high in this trait interact with others and perceive the social world.
Dr. Anastasio received her B.A. degree in Psychology from Millersville University in 1981, her M.S. degree in Experimental Psychology from Villanova University in 1987, and her doctorate in Social Psychology from the University of Delaware in 1992. She has been teaching at the college level since 1986, and joined the faculty of Saint Joseph's University in 1997.
