Sierra Peters is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology and the F. Elaine Donelson Chair of Psychology and Religion. Dr. Peters received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Florida State University in 2025. Her program of research integrates evolutionary and social psychological perspectives to explore how long-term romantic relationships begin, develop, and sometimes dissolve. Dr. Peters has taught courses such as Social Psychology, Intimate Relationships, and Research Methods. To learn more about Dr. Peters, you can visit her .
Peer-Reviewed Journal Articles
•Denotes shared first authorship
Peters, S. D., Maner, J. K., & Meltzer, A. L. (2025). The evolved psychology of mate preferences: Sexual desire underlies the prioritization of attractiveness in long-term partners. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 121, OnlineFirst.
Peters, S. D., Maner, J. K., & Meltzer, A. L. (2024). Sexual desire is not partner specific: Evidence for a positive association between desire for one’s romantic partner and desire for alternative partners. Human Nature. OnlineFirst.
Peters, S. D., Meltzer, A. L., & McNulty, J. K. (2024). Own and partner attachment insecurity interact to predict marital satisfaction and dissolution. In press at Social Psychological and Personality Science, 165(5), 519-529.
•Hendrickson, J., •Peters, S. D., French, J. E., & Maner, J. K. (2024). Distinct individual differences in motivations for pair-bonding and sexual behavior: Implications for close relationships. Personality and Individual Differences, 230, 1-7.
Paitel, E. R., Peters, S. D., Lobermeier, M., & Lopez, R. A. (2022). Age-related no-go P300 amplitudes are moderated by exposure to early-life stress. International Journal of Psychophysiology, 180, 1-9.
Peters, S. D. & Meltzer, A. L. (2021). Newlywed couples’ own and partner sexual disgust sensitivities interact to predict their marital satisfaction through their sexual satisfaction. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 50(6), 2563-2577.
Lobermeier, M. & Peters, S. (2020). Behavioral and ERP measures of response initiation and response inhibition among high and low sensation seekers. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 25, 65-76.
Cowell, R. A., Paitel, E. R., & Peters, S. (2019). The context of caution: An examination of age, social context, and sex on measures of inhibitory control and risky decision-making. The International Journal of Aging and Human Development, 90, 84-103.
Peters, S. & Salzsieder, H. (2018). What makes you swipe right? Gender similarity in interpersonal attraction in a simulated online dating context. Psi Chi Journal of Psychological Research, 23, 320-329.
Invited Chapters & Encyclopedia Entries
Peters, S. D. & Meltzer, A. L. (2023). Sex differences: Emotional versus sexual infidelity. In T. Shackelford (Ed.), Encyclopedia of Sexual Psychology and Behavior. Springer, Cham.
French, J. E., Peters, S. D., Breedin, O. W., Altgelt, E. E., & Meltzer. A. L. (2022). Shifts in partner attractiveness. In T. Shackelford (Ed.), Cambridge Handbook of Evolutionary Perspectives on Sexual Psychology, Volume 3: Female Sexual Adaptations. New York: Springer.
Education
