Courses Taught
PSYCH 1 - General Psychology
PSYCH 13 - Social Psychology
PSYCH 25 - Human Sexuality
WGS 10 - Intro to Women, Gender and Sexulity Studies
About Dr. Anderson
Dr. Steph M. Anderson is an Associate Professor of Psychology. Originally from Michigan, Dr. Anderson studied and worked in New York City for 11 years prior to joining the Santa Monica College Community in 2018. In NYC, they had the opportunity to deepen their love of teaching, explore video a tool of psychological research, and be actively involved in the larger LGBTQ+ community.
Dr. Anderson’s teaching philosophy and practice is fundamentally shaped by a commitment to anti-racist social justice. This commitment influences what they teach, how they teach, and who they are in the classroom. Dr. Anderson believes that learning happens not only from teacher-to-student, but also student-to-student, as well as student-to-teacher.
Trained as a social psychologist, Dr. Anderson teaches psychological science as a social endeavor, believing that the questions psychologists ask and the methods used directly shape the conclusions and theories developed. Across all their courses, Dr. Anderson seeks to connect psychological theory and research to students’ day-to-day experiences and current events. They encourage students to analyze how psychology can be both a tool for understanding our world as well as improving our social environments and interpersonal relationships.
Dr. Anderson’s research examines how gender expression (how we “do” masculinity and femininity) and race affect the type of discrimination experienced by LGBTQ individuals as well as how LGBTQ individuals make meaning of negative encounters in the context of their lives.
Dr. A currently teaches courses in Human Sexuality, Social Psychology, Introductory Psychology, and serves at the Chair of the Equity & Diversity Committee within the Academic Senate. In their free time, Steph spends time with their partner and two cats and is an avid backpacker and mountaineer.
Education
Ph.D., Psychology (specialization in Social Personality Psychology), The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY
M.A., Psychology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY
M.Phil., Psychological Science, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY
Certificate of Documentary Film, The New School, New York, NY
B.A. Psychology, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
B.A. Religion, Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, MI
Publications
Anderson, S. M. (2020). Gender matters: The perceived role of gender expression in discrimination against cisgender and transgender LGBQ individuals. Psychology of Women Quarterly, 44(3), 323-341.
Anderson, S. M. (2017). The experiences of LGBTQ athletes. In K. Nadal (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of psychology and gender. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Anderson, S. M. (2017). The experiences of women athletes. In K. Nadal (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of psychology and gender. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Anderson, S. M., & Fine. M. (2017). Research methods: Overview. In K. Nadal (Ed.), The SAGE encyclopedia of psychology and gender. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Anderson, S. M., & Munoz-Proto, C. (2016). Ethical requirements and responsibilities in video methodologies: Considering confidentiality and representation in social justice research. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 10(7), 377-398.
Tolman, D. L., Anderson, S. M., & Belmonte, K. (2015). Mobilizing metaphor: Considering complexities, contradictions, and contexts in adolescent girls’ and young women’s sexual agency. Sex Roles, 73(7-8), 298-310.