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Dr Hema Preya Selvanathan
Dr

Hema Preya Selvanathan

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 336 54962

Overview

Background

Hema was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. She completed her PhD in Social Psychology, with a concentration in the Psychology of Peace and Violence, at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2019). She then joined the University of Queensland as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow and is now a Senior Lecturer in the School of Psychology.

Hema's research is guided by a central theme: both social change and the maintenance of the status quo are often achieved through sustained group-based efforts. To this end, Hema conducts research around ongoing social and political issues using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in laboratory, online, and field settings across diverse regions of the world. This research is only possible through close collaboration with mentors, colleagues, and students.

Hema's research interests encompass social change and intergroup relations, social movements and collective action, collective resistance, intergroup solidarity, intergroup conflict and reconciliation. Her work has been published in leading journals, such as the Leadership Quarterly, British Journal of Social Psychology, Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, and Political Psychology. She has received awards for her research, including the 2023 Early Career Research Award by the Society of Australasian Social Psychologists. Hema currently serves as an Associate Editor for the British Journal of Social Psychology, and is on the Editorial Boards of Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Personality and Social Psychology Review, and Social and Personality Psychology Compass as Consulting Editor.

Availability

Dr Hema Preya Selvanathan is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Qualifications

  • Masters (Coursework) of Science, University of Massachusetts
  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Massachusetts

Works

Search Professor Hema Preya Selvanathan’s works on UQ eSpace

44 works between 2018 and 2025

1 - 20 of 44 works

2025

Journal Article

Far-right movements in the Western world: How media exposure relates to normative beliefs and attitudes toward the far-right

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Leidner, Bernhard, Syropoulos, Stylianos, Louis, Winnifred, Adelman, Levi, Baka, Aphrodite, Bauer, Christina, Blikmans, Martijn, Becker, Maja, Beran, Eszter, Bilewicz, Michał, Chekroun, Peggy, Greitemeyer, Tobias, Hannover, Bettina, Jasinskaja-Lahti, Inga, Kardos, Peter, Li, Mengyao, Lindholm, Torun, Loughnan, Steve, Mros, Theresa, Paladino, Maria Paola, Papadopoulou, Marina, Rovenpor, Daniel R., Sadus, Kathrin, Vaes, Jeroen, Van Hiel, Alain and van Zomeren, Martijn (2025). Far-right movements in the Western world: How media exposure relates to normative beliefs and attitudes toward the far-right. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. doi: 10.1177/13684302241309554

Far-right movements in the Western world: How media exposure relates to normative beliefs and attitudes toward the far-right

2025

Journal Article

On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action: Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Valdenegro, Daniel, Noor, Masi, Visintin, Emilio Paolo, Lalot, Fanny, Sainz, Mario, Bilewicz, Michał, Hayward, Lydia, Sebben, Simone, Ullrich, Johannes and Hässler, Tabea (2025). On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action: Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations. doi: 10.1177/13684302241309539

On the nonlinear link between stigma and collective action: Evidence from sexual and gender minorities in 25 countries

2025

Journal Article

A mixed‐methods approach to understand victimization discourses by opposing feminist sub‐groups on social media

Maxwell, Christina, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Hames, Sam, Crimston, Charlie R. and Jetten, Jolanda (2025). A mixed‐methods approach to understand victimization discourses by opposing feminist sub‐groups on social media. British Journal of Social Psychology, 64 (1) e12785, e12785. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12785

A mixed‐methods approach to understand victimization discourses by opposing feminist sub‐groups on social media

2024

Journal Article

Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires

Dare, Michael, Jetten, Jolanda, Crimston, Charlie R. and Selvanathan, Hema P. (2024). Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 54 (12), 744-756. doi: 10.1111/jasp.13069

Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires

2024

Journal Article

“Fight like hell”: Projected moral polarisation predicts anticipated conflict and the perceived responsibility to overturn an election loss

Crimston, Charlie R., Jetten, Jolanda and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2024). “Fight like hell”: Projected moral polarisation predicts anticipated conflict and the perceived responsibility to overturn an election loss. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 27 (7), 1712-1734. doi: 10.1177/13684302231223896

“Fight like hell”: Projected moral polarisation predicts anticipated conflict and the perceived responsibility to overturn an election loss

2024

Journal Article

“We’re not as great as we used to be”: Perceived national status threat and the desire for strong leaders

Ionescu, Octavia, Mols, Frank, Álvarez, Belén, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie and Jetten, Jolanda (2024). “We’re not as great as we used to be”: Perceived national status threat and the desire for strong leaders. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 28 (1), 29-49. doi: 10.1177/13684302241265236

“We’re not as great as we used to be”: Perceived national status threat and the desire for strong leaders

2024

Journal Article

Identifying different ‘types’ of participants in the Chilean student movement: A latent transition analysis of collective action intentions, social class and movement identification

Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, González, Roberto and Carvacho, Héctor (2024). Identifying different ‘types’ of participants in the Chilean student movement: A latent transition analysis of collective action intentions, social class and movement identification. Political Psychology, 45 (1), 151-173. doi: 10.1111/pops.12918

Identifying different ‘types’ of participants in the Chilean student movement: A latent transition analysis of collective action intentions, social class and movement identification

2023

Journal Article

Racial majority group’s support for racial equality in Malaysia

Lee, Yan Yee, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Khoo, Ying Hooi and Jetten, Jolanda (2023). Racial majority group’s support for racial equality in Malaysia. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 30 (1), 48-57. doi: 10.1037/pac0000709

Racial majority group’s support for racial equality in Malaysia

2023

Journal Article

Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership

Haslam, S. Alexander, Reicher, Stephen D., Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Gaffney, Amber M., Steffens, Niklas K., Packer, Dominic, Van Bavel, Jay J., Ntontis, Evangelos, Neville, Fergus, Vestergren, Sara, Jurstakova, Klara and Platow, Michael J. (2023). Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership. Leadership Quarterly, 34 (2) 101622, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101622

Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership

2023

Journal Article

The distinct associations of ingroup attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic: Evidence from a multilevel investigation in 21 countries

McLamore, Quinnehtukqut, Syropoulos, Stylianos, Leidner, Bernhard, Hirschberger, Gilad, van Bezouw, Maarten J., Rovenpor, Daniel, Paladino, Maria Paola, Baumert, Anna, Bilewicz, Michal, Bilgen, Arda, Chatard, Armand, Chekroun, Peggy, Chinchilla, Juana, Choi, Hoon‐Seok, Euh, Hyun, Gomez, Angel, Kardos, Peter, Khoo, Ying Hooi, Li, Mengyao, Légal, Jean‐Baptiste, Loughnan, Steve, Mari, Silvia, Tan‐Mansukhani, Roseann, Muldoon, Orla, Noor, Masi, Petrović, Nebojša, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Uluğ, Özden Melis, Wohl, Michael J. ... Zein, Rizqy Amelia (2023). The distinct associations of ingroup attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic: Evidence from a multilevel investigation in 21 countries. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (2), 992-1012. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12614

The distinct associations of ingroup attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic: Evidence from a multilevel investigation in 21 countries

2023

Journal Article

What should allies do? Identifying activist perspectives on the role of white allies in the struggle for racial justice in the United States

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Uluğ, Özden Melis and Burrows, Brooke (2023). What should allies do? Identifying activist perspectives on the role of white allies in the struggle for racial justice in the United States. European Journal of Social Psychology, 53 (1), 43-60. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2882

What should allies do? Identifying activist perspectives on the role of white allies in the struggle for racial justice in the United States

2022

Journal Article

Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress

Bentley, Sarah V., Young, Tarli, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Dare, Michael, Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Steffens, Niklas K., Wang, Zhechen and Wibisono, Susilo (2022). Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress. Frontiers in Public Health, 10 976443, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.976443

Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress

2022

Journal Article

Moral polarization predicts support for authoritarian and progressive strong leaders via the perceived breakdown of society

Crimston, Charlie R., Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Jetten, Jolanda (2022). Moral polarization predicts support for authoritarian and progressive strong leaders via the perceived breakdown of society. Political Psychology, 43 (4), 671-691. doi: 10.1111/pops.12787

Moral polarization predicts support for authoritarian and progressive strong leaders via the perceived breakdown of society

2022

Journal Article

A history of collective resilience and collective victimhood: two sides of the same coin that explain Black Americans' present‐day responses to oppression

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Jetten, Jolanda and Umeh, Alexis (2022). A history of collective resilience and collective victimhood: two sides of the same coin that explain Black Americans' present‐day responses to oppression. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (1), 136-160. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12562

A history of collective resilience and collective victimhood: two sides of the same coin that explain Black Americans' present‐day responses to oppression

2022

Journal Article

Australia Day or Invasion Day? Perspectives on the continuing impact of colonialism underlies public contestations around Australia's national day

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Jetten, Jolanda and Crimston, Charlie (2022). Australia Day or Invasion Day? Perspectives on the continuing impact of colonialism underlies public contestations around Australia's national day. Political Psychology, 44 (1), 61-77. doi: 10.1111/pops.12818

Australia Day or Invasion Day? Perspectives on the continuing impact of colonialism underlies public contestations around Australia's national day

2022

Journal Article

Trust in scientific information mediates associations between conservatism and coronavirus responses in the U.S., but few other nations

McLamore, Quinnehtukqut, Syropoulos, Stylianos, Leidner, Bernhard, Hirschberger, Gilad, Young, Kevin, Zein, Rizqy Amelia, Baumert, Anna, Bilewicz, Michal, Bilgen, Arda, van Bezouw, Maarten J., Chatard, Armand, Chekroun, Peggy, Chinchilla, Juana, Choi, Hoon-Seok, Euh, Hyun, Gomez, Angel, Kardos, Peter, Khoo, Ying Hooi, Li, Mengyao, Légal, Jean-Baptiste, Loughnan, Steve, Mari, Silvia, Tan-Mansukhani, Roseann, Muldoon, Orla, Noor, Masi, Paladino, Maria Paola, Petrović, Nebojša, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Uluğ, Özden Melis ... Burrows, B. (2022). Trust in scientific information mediates associations between conservatism and coronavirus responses in the U.S., but few other nations. Scientific Reports, 12 (1) 3724, 1-15. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-07508-6

Trust in scientific information mediates associations between conservatism and coronavirus responses in the U.S., but few other nations

2022

Journal Article

How being rooted in the past can shape the future: the role of social identity continuity in the wish for a strong leader

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie R. and Jetten, Jolanda (2022). How being rooted in the past can shape the future: the role of social identity continuity in the wish for a strong leader. The Leadership Quarterly, 33 (4) 101608, 101608. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101608

How being rooted in the past can shape the future: the role of social identity continuity in the wish for a strong leader

2022

Journal Article

Cracks before the crisis: polarization prior to COVID‐19 predicts increased collective angst and economic pessimism

Crimston, Charlie R., Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Bentley, Sarah, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Steffens, Niklas K., Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida and Wibisono, Susilo (2022). Cracks before the crisis: polarization prior to COVID‐19 predicts increased collective angst and economic pessimism. European Journal of Social Psychology, 52 (4), 669-678. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2845

Cracks before the crisis: polarization prior to COVID‐19 predicts increased collective angst and economic pessimism

2022

Journal Article

Experiments make a good breakfast, but a poor supper

Jetten, Jolanda, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie R., Bentley, Sarah V. and Haslam, S. Alexander (2022). Experiments make a good breakfast, but a poor supper. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 45 e79. doi: 10.1017/s0140525x21000662

Experiments make a good breakfast, but a poor supper

2021

Journal Article

My fight or yours: stereotypes of activists from advantaged and disadvantaged groups

Burrows, Brooke, Preya Selvanathan, Hema and Lickel, Brian (2021). My fight or yours: stereotypes of activists from advantaged and disadvantaged groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49 (1), 1461672211060124-124. doi: 10.1177/01461672211060124

My fight or yours: stereotypes of activists from advantaged and disadvantaged groups

Funding

Current funding

  • 2025 - 2028
    The psychology of everyday resistance
    ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Award
    Open grant
  • 2025 - 2028
    Pathways to non-Indigenous Allyship with Indigenous Australian Peoples (an ARC Discovery Indigenous 2025 grant administered by ANU)
    The Australian National University
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2023
    "They're erased us": Collective identity loss amongst Tamils in the aftermath of war
    Division 48: Society for the Study of Peace, Conflict and Violence
    Open grant

Supervision

Availability

Dr Hema Preya Selvanathan is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Boundary beliefs of cisgender women and their implications for allyship with transgender women

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Can We Handle the Heat? A Social Identity Analysis of Climate Concern and Action in Community Group Contexts

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Investigating the challenges and opportunities for achieving social equality in a diversifying society: A social identity approach.

    Associate Advisor

    Other advisors: Professor Jolanda Jetten

Completed supervision

Media

Enquiries

Contact Dr Hema Preya Selvanathan directly for media enquiries about:

  • allyship
  • conflict
  • protests
  • reconciliation
  • social change
  • social movements
  • solidarity

Need help?

For help with finding experts, story ideas and media enquiries, contact our Media team:

communications@uq.edu.au