Maria Santaguida

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 2022-2023.

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., Santaguida, M., Zhu, C.Y., Di Tomasso, S., Hu, R. Cormier, G., Johnson, A.P. & Vachon, D. (2022, under review). Sex robots and personality: It is more about sex than robots. Computers in Human Behaviour.

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

Kennedy-Turner, K., Santaguida, M., & Szczerbickyj, K. (2022, in press) 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.

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 & H. Hoffmann (Eds.) 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 & H. Hoffmann (Eds.) 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
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

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

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (May 26, 2022; Shopping, Doing Chores, and Having Sex in Space)
Available at: https://youtu.be/23X_7PRGSUg?t=230

CBC Sickboy Podcast (May 2022; Sex in Space: The Case for Space Sexology) Available at: https://www.cbc.ca/listen/cbc-podcasts/434-sickboy/episode/15914529-sex-in-space-the-case-for-space-sexology?featuredPodcast=true

Mic Magazine (March, 2022; Inside the push to study sex in space) Available at: https://www.mic.com/life/sex-in-space-research-space-sexology

Yorokobu Magazine. (December, 2021: ¿Sueñan los astronautas con tener sexo en Marte?) Available at: https://www.yorokobu.es/monograficos-descarga-yorokobu/#numero-123-futuro/76/

4th SPACE. (December 6, 2021: Bringing sex to the final frontier: A discussion on space sexology). Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7EoK2gnPXds

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 ?). Available at: https://theconversation.com/damour-et-de-fusee-comment-avoir-des-relations-sexuelles-dans-lespace-et-assurer-ainsi-la-survie-et-le-bien-etre-de-lhumanite-167873

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). Available at: https://theconversation.com/love-and-rockets-we-need-to-figure-out-how-to-have-sex-in-space-for-human-survival-and-well-being-167515

The Conversation (April 13, 2020: Cybersex, erotic tech and virtual intimacy are on the rise during COVID-19). Available at: https://theconversation.com/cybersex-erotic-tech-and-virtual-intimacy-are-on-the-rise-during-covid-19-141769

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