Dr. Kelsey Hess is Assistant Professor in the Department of Psychology at Eastern University. Dr. Hess teaches courses that focus on cognition, social psychology, research methods, and neuroscience. Dr. Hess’ research interests can be defined broadly as legal psychology. Legal psychology applies social and cognitive theory to various areas of the legal and justice systems. Specifically, her research examines investigative interviewing techniques, eyewitness memory, physiological indicators of cognitive load, and legal decision-making. Dr. Hess is looking for interested students to join her interviewing and memory labs or even those seeking mentorship for their own unique research project in a related area.
Education
- Ph.D., Legal Psychology, Florida International University
- Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Neuroscience, Florida International University
- M.S., Legal Psychology, Florida International University
- B.A., Clinical Psychology/Criminal Justice, Ohio Northern University
Selected Publications
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Schwartz, B. L., Kurdoglu-Ersoy, P., & Hess, K. L. (2025). Natural ecology and comparative approaches to human memory. In M. Togalia (Eds.), Adaptive Memory. Oxford University Press.
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Schwartz B. L., Pournaghdali, A., & Hess, K.L. (2023). Comparative approaches to the natural ecology of metacognition. Comparative Cognition and Behavior Reviews, 18. doi: 10.3819/CCBR.2023.18000
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Zoladz, P. R., Riggenbach, M. R., Weiser, J. N., Hipskind, J. J., Wireman, L. E., Hess, K. L., ... & Mosley, B. E. (2022). Female Carriers of the Met Allele of the BDNF Val66Met Polymorphism Develop Weaker Fear Memories in a Fear-Potentiated Startle Paradigm. Journal of Behavioral and Brain Science, 12(5), 211-235.
- Hess, K. L., Wolfs, A. C. F., Goldfarb, D., Evans, J. R., Hayes, T., Granitur, C., & McLaney, S. (2022). The influence of gender and other extralegal factors on student loan bankruptcy decisions. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 28(1), 137-150. https://doi.org/10.1037/law0000338
- Riggenbach, M. R., Weiser, J. N., Mosley, B. E., Hipskind, J. J., Wireman, L. E., Hess, K. L., Duffy, T. J., Handel, J. K., Kaschalk, M. G., Reneau, K. E., Rorabaugh, B. R., Norrholm, S. D., Jovanovic, T., & Zoladz, P. R. (2019). Immediate pre-learning stress enhances baseline startle response and fear acquisition in a fear-potentiated startle paradigm. Behavioural Brain Research, 371, 111980. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbr.2019.111980
Specialities
Legal psychology, investigative interviewing, eyewitness memory, physiological indicators of cognitive load, and legal decision-making