Research Interests
- Alcohol-Related Sexual Behaviours
- Sexual Aggression & Violence
- Sexual Decision-Making
- Erotic Technology
- Space Sexology
- Sexual Psychophysiology
My research investigates the acute effects of alcohol on individuals’ subjective and psychophysiological responses to visual sexual stimuli, using eye-tracking, genital thermography, and self-report measures. My research also focuses on the role of sex-related alcohol expectancies in risky sexual decision-making.
Over the past 7 years, I have been involved in various initiatives that enhance the quality of the undergraduate and graduate student experience in the Psychology Department at Concordia University. I have done consulting work in the private sector and for various academic-related programs and committees, such as Mentorship Among Psychology Students and the Graduate Instructors and Teaching Assistants Committee at Concordia University.
Personal website: https://mariasantaguida.com/
Prospective Specialization/Honours students: I am no longer accepting applications for specialization/honours projects for 2023-2024.
Prospective volunteers: I am currently not looking for new volunteers. However, I am open to receiving applications for Fall 2022. Please send your CV and transcript when you apply.
Education
Ph.D. Candidate (Psychology – Research Option, Concordia University)
B.A. (Honours Psychology – Great Distinction, Concordia University)
Academic awards and distinctions
- 2021-2022 Graduate Scholarship in Psychology, Concordia University
- 2018-2021 Doctoral Scholarship Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC)
- 2018-2019 Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts & Science Travel Awards
- 2019 Concordia University’s Council on Student Life Outstanding Contribution Award
- 2017-2019 Concordia University Conference Exposition Awards
- 2016 Graduate Fellowship, Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts and Science
- 2015 Graduate Scholarship, Fonds Québécois de la Recherche sur la Société et la Culture (FQRSC)
- 2014 Joseph-Armand Bombardier Scholarship, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council
- 2014 Special Entrance Award, Concordia University
- 2009-2013 Dean’s List, Concordia University’s Faculty of Arts and Science
Teaching and Leadership
Lecturer
- Research Methods & Design I (PSYC310 – Undergraduate; 3 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
Teaching Assistant
- Statistical Analysis I (PSYC315 – Super TA; 2 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
- Statistical Analysis I (PSYC315 – Undergraduate Laboratory Instructor; 8 sessions), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
- Research Methods & Design I (PSYC 310 – Undergraduate Conference Instructor; 1 session), Department of Psychology, Concordia University
Thesis supervision and student mentorship
Graduate Student Supervisor
- Constandina Perlinghis, MA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
- William Edmiston, BSc Candidate (undergraduate – Concordia University)
- Zoe Yarymowich, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
- Alexandra Connor, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
- Jessica Salvemini, BA (undergraduate – Concordia University)
Publications & Presentations (2021 – 2022)
Peer-reviewed publications
Dubé, S., Williams, M., Santaguida, M., Hu, R., Gadoury, T., Yim, B., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Hot for robots! Sexual arousal increases willingness to engage erotically with robots. Journal of Sex Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2022.2142190
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Zhu, C.Y., Di Tomasso, S., Hu, R. Cormier, G., Johnson, A.P. & Vachon, D. (2022). Sex robots and personality: It is more about sex than robots. Computers in Human Behaviour. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2022.107403
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Anctil, D., Zhu, C.Y., Thomasse, L., Giaccari, L., Oassey, R., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Perceived stigma and erotic technology: From sex toys to erobots. Journal of Psychology and Sexuality. https://doi.org/10.1080/19419899.2022.2067783
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., & Anctil, D. (2022). Erobots as research tools: Overcoming the ethical and methodological challenges of sexology. Journal of Future Robot Life. https://doi.org/10.3233/FRL-210017
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Anctil, D., Giaccari, L., & Lapierre, J. (2021). The case for Space Sexology. Journal of Sex Research. https://doi.org/10.1080/00224499.2021.2012639
Chapters
Santaguida, M., Dubé, S., Yarymowich, Z., Williams, M., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022, in press). Alcohol expectancy theory and high-risk sexual behavior among college students. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.). Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham.
Kennedy-Turner, K., Santaguida, M., & Szczerbickyj, K. (2022) Gender schema theory: Culture and society as proximate causes for gender identity. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. New York: Springer Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_109-1
Santaguida, M., Dubé, S. Williams, M., Eidus, C. Vachon, D. & Johnson, A.P. (2022). Alcohol myopia and high-risk sexual behaviour among college students. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_108-1
Kaspryzk, A., Santaguida, M., & Kennedy-Turner, K. (2022). Cannabis and sexual behaviour: Focus on men who have sex with men. In A.D. Lykins (Ed.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_106-1
Dubé, S.*, Santaguida, M.*, Anctil, D., Leshnor, C., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2021). Technology-based sexualities. In A.D. Lykins & H. Hoffmann (Eds.) Encyclopedia of Sexuality and Gender. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-59531-3_70-1
*Shared first co-authorship
Oral Presentations
Santaguida, M. (2022, September). 21st century sexology: Exploring applications of sexual technology on Earth and in space [Oral presentation]. Reimagine Sexuality – A SexTech Conference (Virtual).
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Anctil, D., Giaccari, L, & Lapierre, J. (2021, October). The case for space sexology [Oral presentation]. Mars Society Convention (Virtual).
Santaguida, M., Dubé, S., Anctil, D., Leshner, C., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2021, August). Technology-based sexualities: A review and call for research [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual).
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., & Anctil, D. (2021, August). Erobots as research tools: Overcoming ethical and methodological challenges in sexology. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual)
Kasprzyk, A., Giaccari, L., Zhu, C. Y., Cormier, G., Hu, R., Williams, M., Dubé, S., & Santaguida, M. (2021, August). Erobotics and mental health: The relation between depression, anxiety, stress, and the willingness to engage with sexbots as a function of their perceived nature [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual).
Zhu, C. Y., Hu, R., Giaccari, L., Williams, M., Kasprzyk, A., Cormier, G., Dubé, S., & Santaguida, M. (2021, August). The influence of media representations on attitudes towards sex robots [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual).
Cormier, G., Williams, M., Hu, R., Giaccari, L., Zhu, C. Y., Kasprzyk, A., Dubé, S. & Santaguida, M. (2021, August). Erobotics and the quest for the “perfect companion.” [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual).
Hu, R., Zhu, C. Y., Williams, M., Kasprzyk, A., Cormier, G., Giaccari, L., Santaguida, M., & Dubé, S. (2021, August). Erobotics and the Big-5: An exploration of the relationship between personality traits, perceived appropriateness of sex robot use, and willingness to engage erotically with machines. [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love & Sex with Robots (virtual).
Williams, M., Kasprzyk, A., Cormier, G., Hu, R., Giaccari, L., Zhu, C.Y., Santaguida, M., & Dubé, S. (2021, August). Social intelligence and willingness to engage erotically with sex robots across cisgender women and men: An exploratory study [Oral presentation]. International Congress on Love and Sex with Robots (virtual).
Anctil, D., Dubé, S., & Santaguida, M. (2021, February). Érobotique. Sexualité et intimité à l’ère des technologies numériques. [Oral presentation]. Cégep de Granby, Granby, Quebec.
Poster Presentations
Santaguida, M., Edmiston, W., Dubé, S., Yarymowich, Z., Kasprzyk, A., Williams, M., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022). Alcohol use, sex-related expectancies, and sexting among university students. [Poster Presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research Conference, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., Zhu, C.Y., Hu, R., Di Tommaso, S., Cormier, G., Gadoury, T., Yim, B., Vachon, D., & Johnson, A. (2022). Sex robots and personality: It’s more about sex than robots [Poster presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Dubé, S., Santaguida, M., & Anctil, D., & Lapierre, J. (2021, July). Sextech in space: Challenges & possibilities. [Poster presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research Conference (Virtual).
Yarymowich, Z., Santaguida, M., Dubé, S., Rappel, J., Eidus, C., Levitan, J., Ellis, M., Johnson, A., & Vachon, D. (2021, July). The association between men’s sexual attitudes and behaviours towards women and sexual arousal to sexually aggressive visual stimuli. [Poster presentation]. International Academy of Sex Research Conference (Virtual).
Media
Revue Spiritualité Santé (December 1, 2022)
Soins virtuels et société | télésanté preventive, accompagnement chez soi!
The Conversation (October 28, 2022)
#Metoo dans l’espace : les risques de violences sexuelles loin de la Terre sont bien réels
The Conversation (October 12, 2022).
#MeToo in space: We must address the potential for sexual harassment and assault away from Earth
The Daily Beast (September 23, 2022)
Sex in Space Will Look Like Nothing We’ve Ever Seen Before.
Gama Revista (September 18, 2022)
Sexo: uma odisseia no espaço.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (May 26, 2022)
Shopping, Doing Chores, and Having Sex in Space
CBC Sickboy Podcast (May 2022)
Sex in Space: The Case for Space Sexology.
Mic Magazine (March, 2022).
Inside the push to study sex in space
Yorokobu Magazine. (December, 2021)
¿Sueñan los astronautas con tener sexo en Marte?
4th SPACE (December 6, 2021)
Bringing sex to the final frontier: A discussion on space sexology
The Conversation (September 24, 2021).
D’amour et de fusée : comment avoir des relations sexuelles dans l’espace et assurer ainsi la survie et le bien-être de l’humanité ?
The Conversation (September 12, 2021)
Love and rockets: We need to figure out how to have sex in space for human survival and well-being
The Conversation (April 13, 2020)
Cybersex, erotic tech and virtual intimacy are on the rise during COVID-19
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