Sari van Anders
Canada 150 Research Chair in Social Neuroendocrinology, Sexuality, & Gender/Sex Professor of Psychology, Gender Studies, & Neuroscience
Department of Psychology
Ph.D., Biological & Cognitive Psychology, Simon Fraser University (SFU), 2003 – 2007.
M.A., Behavioural & Cognitive Neuroscience, University of Western Ontario (UWO), 2001-2003.
Hons. B.A. with Distinction, Scholars’ Electives & Psychology, UWO, 1997-2001.
Name Pronunciation Guide:
"SAIRee van ANDers"
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Research Interests
Our research program focuses on gender/sex and sexual diversity, sexuality, feminist/queer science, and social neuroendocrinology. Within gender/sex and sexual diversity, we explore measurement and understandings of these phenomena, including with models we've developed (like sexual configurations theory), and with relevance to trans, nonbinary, queer, and/or other minoritized gender/sex/ual experiences/identities/existences, as well as "majority-situating" approaches with gender/sex/ual majorities. With sexuality, we explore desire, orgasm, pleasure, porn, and other topics, including with theory we've developed (like the heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men). With social neuroendocrinology, we explore the impact of social behavioural contexts related to intimacy, gender, sexuality, and power/oppression on hormones like testosterone, using theory we have developed (like our steroid/peptide theory of social bonds). And, with feminist/queer science, we do work on articulating principles for this approach and how it imbues all our other research.
Selected Publications
van Anders SM, Beischel WJ, Schudson ZC, & Chadwick SB, in press. Feminist and queer science: Principles for research with gender, sex, and sexuality in psychology and beyond. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity.
van Anders SM, 2024. Gender/Sex/ual diversity and biobehavioral research. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 11, 471-487.
Beischel WJ, Schudson ZC, Hoskin RA, & van Anders SM, 2023. The Gender/Sex 3x3: Measuring and categorizing gender/sex beyond binaries. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 10, 355-372.
van Anders SM, Herbenick D, Brotto LA, Chadwick SB, & Harris EA, 2022. The heteronormativity theory of low sexual desire in women partnered with men. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 51, 391-415. doi: 10.1007/s10508-021-02100-x
Beischel WJ, Schudson ZC, & van Anders SM, 2021. Visualizing gender/sex diversity via sexual configurations theory. Psychology of Sexual Orientation and Gender Diversity, 8, 1-13.
Hyde JS, Bigler* RB, Joel* DS, Tate* CC, & van Anders* SM, 2019. The future of sex and gender in psychology: Five challenges to the gender binary. American Psychologist, 74, 171-193. DOI: “*” indicates alphabetical ordering.
van Anders SM, Schudson ZC, Abed EC, Beischel WJ, Dibble ER, Gunther OD, Kutchko VJ, & Silver ER, 2017. Biological sex, gender, and public policy.
van Anders SM, Steiger J, & Goldey KL, 2015. Gendered behavior modulates testosterone in women and men. PNAS: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 112, 13805-13810.
van Anders SM, 2015. Beyond sexual orientation: Integrating gender/sex and diverse sexualities in Sexual Configurations Theory. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 44, 1177-1213.
van Anders SM, 2013. Invited contribution: Beyond masculinity: Testosterone, gender/sex, and human social behavior in a comparative context. Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology, 34, 198-210.
van Anders SM & Goldey KL, 2012. The Steroid/Peptide Theory of Social Bonds: A reply to Goodson’s letter to the editor. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 37, 445.