Cassandra Hesse
BA (KPU), MA (UBC), PhD Candidate (UBC)
Cassandra Hesse is a developmental psychologist and sexologist and a PhD candidate in Human Development, Learning, and Culture at the University of British Columbia. She previously completed her master's degree in Human Development, Learning, and Culture at UBC and earned her Bachelor of Arts (with honours) in Psychology from Kwantlen Polytechnic University. Her doctoral research investigates how exposure to sexually explicit content online shapes young people’s sexual knowledge, beliefs, behaviours, and attitudes. More broadly, her research examines youth development within digital and social contexts, including the role of explicit online content, aggression, prosocial behaviour, cyberbullying, and religion in shaping developmental outcomes. In her free time, Cass enjoys rowing, biking, and spending time with her family.
Courses taught
- PSYC 1100 – Introduction to Psychology: Basic Processes
- PSYC 1200 – Introduction to Psychology: Areas and Applications
- PSYC 2320 – Developmental Psychology: Child Development
- PSYC 2321 – Developmental Psychology: Adolescence
- PSYC 3316 – Developmental Psychology: Infancy
- PSYC 2322 – Developmental Psychology: Adult Development
Areas of Interest
Her area of interest focuses specifically on controversial human sexuality and developmental behavioral concepts. Primarily, this includes sex, pornography, gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, pleasure, intimacy, and the biopsychosocial development of individuals across the life span.
Scholarly Work
- Hesse, C., & Pedersen, C. L. (2017). Porn sex versus real sex: How sexually explicit material shapes our understanding of sexual anatomy, physiology, and behaviour. Sexuality & Culture, 21(3), 754–775
- McKenzie, S., Hesse, C. L., Carson, A., & Knight, R. (2023). “Anticipate the need”: A narrative analysis of key stakeholders’ experiences providing services to sexual and gender minority youth in British Columbia, Canada, during the COVID-19 pandemic. Critical Public Health.
- Gaudette, M., Hesse, C., Kia, H., Chanady, T., Carson, A., Knight, R., & Ferlatte, O. (2022). A “double-edged sword”: Health professionals’ perspectives on the health and social impacts of gay dating apps on young gay, bisexual, trans and queer men. The Journal of Sex Research
- Lewis, B. J., Hesse, C. L., Cook, B. C., & Pedersen, C. L. (2018). Sexistential crisis: An intersectional analysis of gender expression and sexual orientation in masculine overcompensation. Journal of Homosexuality.
- Pedersen, C. L., Champion, A. R., Hesse, C. L., & Lewis, B. J. (2015). A question of deviancy: Comparing exotic dancers and female university students. Sexuality & Culture, 19(4), 800–815.
- Skoda, K., Oswald, F., Brown, K., Hesse, C. L., & Pedersen, C. L. (2020). Showing skin: Tattoo visibility status, egalitarianism, and personality as predictors of sexual openness among women. Sexuality & Culture, 24(4), 1–22
- Champion, A., Brown, K., Hughes, S., Hesse, C. L., & Pedersen, C. L. (2020). The influence of relationship status and sexual orientation on reputational punishment of other women’s behaviour. Psychology & Sexuality.
- Oswald, F., Lopes, A., Skoda, K., Hesse, C. L., & Pedersen, C. L. (2019). I’ll show you mine, so you’ll show me yours: Motivations and personality variables in photographic exhibitionism. Journal of Sex Research.
- Parent, N., Dadgar, K., Xiao, B., Hesse, C. L., & Shapka, J. D. (2021). Social disconnection during COVID-19: The role of attachment, fear of missing out, and smartphone use. Journal of Research on Adolescence, 31(3), 748–763.
- Wisener, K. M., Driessen, E. W., Cuncic, C., Hesse, C. L., & Eva, K. W. (2020). Incentives for clinical teachers: On why their complex influences should lead us to proceed with caution. Medical Education