He earned his Ph.D. in Psychology from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. His research focuses on violence and aggression, specifically how it relates to social influences and substance use, as well as trajectories of violent behavior and victimization across time. He has received early-career awards from the International Society for Research on Aggression, Southeastern Psychological Association, and Georgia State University. Dr. Swartout has published several peer-reviewed research articles and frequently speaks at national and international conferences.