Professor Matthew Hornsey
Professor

Matthew Hornsey

Email: 
Phone: 
+61 7 344 31218

Background

Supported by over 20 external grants - including an ARC Laureate - I am known for developing insights around three themes: (1) rejection of science and technology, (2) pro-environmental behaviour, and (3) intergroup relations. In each domain I have developed unique models designed to understand the logic behind supposedly “irrational” behaviour, and used them to facilitate attitude and behaviour change. My most recent work focuses on understanding (and reducing) people’s motivations to reject scientific consensus, including the psychology of climate inaction. Matthew is currently leading the Net Zero Observatory at the University of Queensland, a multi-disciplinary group of academics and practitioners who design strategies to accelerate industry action and community support for rapid decarbonisation.

Availability

Professor Matthew Hornsey is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Communication and media studies Psychology

Qualifications

  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • Rejection of science

    I examine the psychological motivations for people to reject scientific consensus, with a particular emphasis on the psychology of climate change skepticism and vaccine hesitancy.

  • Prejudice and intergroup relations

    I examine the psychology of why hostility emerges between nations, religions, ideologies etc. I then use these insights to examine what can be done to ease intergroup tensions.

  • Conspiracy theories

    I examine why people believe in conspiracy theories, the consequences of conspiracy theories, and strategies for reducing their negative impacts

Search Professor Matthew Hornsey’s works on UQ eSpace

257 works between 1998 and 2026
All (257) Book (4) Journal Article (216) Other Outputs (2) Conference Publication (18) Book Chapter (17)

221 - 240 of 257 works

2006

Journal Article

Why do people engage in collective action? Revisiting the role of perceived effectiveness

Hornsey, Matthew J., Blackwood, Leda, Louis, Winnifred Louis, Fielding, Kelly, Mavor, Ken, Morton, Thomas, O'Brien, Anne, Paasonen, Karl-Erik, Smith, Joanne and White, Katherine M. (2006). Why do people engage in collective action? Revisiting the role of perceived effectiveness. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 36 (7), 1701-1722. doi: 10.1111/j.0021-9029.2006.00077.x

Why do people engage in collective action? Revisiting the role of perceived effectiveness

2006

Conference Publication

Intergroup apologisers: Remorseful but unforgiven

Philpot, C. and Hornsey, M.J. (2006). Intergroup apologisers: Remorseful but unforgiven. The 14th Brisbane Symposium on Social Identity, Custom's House, Brisbane, 12 August, 2006. London: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.1080/00049530600940018

Intergroup apologisers: Remorseful but unforgiven

2006

Journal Article

Differentiation between and within groups: The influence of individualist and collectivist group norms

Jetten, J., McAuliffe, B. J., Hornsey, M. J. and Hogg, M. A. (2006). Differentiation between and within groups: The influence of individualist and collectivist group norms. European Journal of Social Psychology, 36 (6), 825-843. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.322

Differentiation between and within groups: The influence of individualist and collectivist group norms

2006

Journal Article

The impact of individualist and collectivist group norms on evaluations of dissenting group members

Hornsey, Matthew J., Jetten, Jolanda, McAuliffe, Brendan J. and Hogg, Michael, A. (2006). The impact of individualist and collectivist group norms on evaluations of dissenting group members. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 42 (1), 57-68. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2005.01.006

The impact of individualist and collectivist group norms on evaluations of dissenting group members

2006

Journal Article

Group-directed criticism in Indonesia: Role of message source and audience

Ariyanto, A., Hornsey, M. J. and Gallois, C. (2006). Group-directed criticism in Indonesia: Role of message source and audience. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 9 (2), 96-102. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-839X.2006.00186.x

Group-directed criticism in Indonesia: Role of message source and audience

2006

Book Chapter

Self-concept threat and multiple categorization within groups

Hogg, M A and Hornsey, M J (2006). Self-concept threat and multiple categorization within groups. Multiple Social Categorization: Processes, Models and Applications. (pp. 112-135) edited by R.J. Crisp and M. Hewstone. East Sussex: Psychology Press. doi: 10.4324/9780203969229

Self-concept threat and multiple categorization within groups

2005

Journal Article

Why being right is not enough: Predicting defensiveness in the face of group criticism

Hornsey, M. J. (2005). Why being right is not enough: Predicting defensiveness in the face of group criticism. European Review of Social Psychology, 16 (9), 301-334. doi: 10.1080/10463280500436040

Why being right is not enough: Predicting defensiveness in the face of group criticism

2005

Journal Article

Speaking for others: The pros and cons of group advocates using collective language

Hornsey, M. J., Blackwood, L. and O'Brien, A. (2005). Speaking for others: The pros and cons of group advocates using collective language. Group Processes & Intergroup Relations, 8 (3), 245-257. doi: 10.1177/1368430205053941

Speaking for others: The pros and cons of group advocates using collective language

2005

Journal Article

Loyalty without Conformity: Tailoring Self-perception as a Means of Balancing Belonging and Differentiation

Hornsey, M. J. and Jetten, J. (2005). Loyalty without Conformity: Tailoring Self-perception as a Means of Balancing Belonging and Differentiation. Self and Identity, 4 (1), 81-95. doi: 10.1080/13576500444000236

Loyalty without Conformity: Tailoring Self-perception as a Means of Balancing Belonging and Differentiation

2005

Journal Article

Keeping it in-house: How audience affects responses to group criticism

Hornsey, M. J., De Bruijn, P., Creed, J., Allen, J., Ariyanto, A. and Svensson, A. (2005). Keeping it in-house: How audience affects responses to group criticism. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35 (3), 291-312. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.246

Keeping it in-house: How audience affects responses to group criticism

2005

Journal Article

When differences matter: Intergroup distinctiveness and the evaluation of impostors

Jetten, Jolanda, Summerville, Natasha, Hornsey, Mathew, J. and Mewse, Avril, J. (2005). When differences matter: Intergroup distinctiveness and the evaluation of impostors. European Journal of Social Psychology, 35 (5), 609-620. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.282

When differences matter: Intergroup distinctiveness and the evaluation of impostors

2005

Conference Publication

Overcoming the intergroup sensitivity effect: It's a matter of trust

Hornsey, M. J. (2005). Overcoming the intergroup sensitivity effect: It's a matter of trust. the 34th Annual Conference of the Society for Australasian Social Psychologists, James Cook University, Townsville QLD, 7-10 April 2005. Melbourne: Australian Journal of Psychology.

Overcoming the intergroup sensitivity effect: It's a matter of trust

2004

Journal Article

Criticizing groups from the inside and the outside: An identity perspective on the intergroup sensitivity effect

Hornsey, M. J. and Imani, A. (2004). Criticizing groups from the inside and the outside: An identity perspective on the intergroup sensitivity effect. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 30 (3), 365-383. doi: 10.1177/0146167203261295

Criticizing groups from the inside and the outside: An identity perspective on the intergroup sensitivity effect

2004

Conference Publication

You can criticise because you care: Attributions and responses to ingroup critics

Hornsey, M (2004). You can criticise because you care: Attributions and responses to ingroup critics. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Australasian Social Psychologists, Auckland, New Zealand, 15-18 April, 2004. Basingstoke, U.K.: Taylor & Francis.

You can criticise because you care: Attributions and responses to ingroup critics

2004

Conference Publication

Intergroup forgiveness: Does an official apology help?

Philpot, C. R. and Hornsey, M. J. (2004). Intergroup forgiveness: Does an official apology help?. 33rd Annual Meeting of the Society of Australian Social Psychologists, Auckland, New Zealand, 15-18 April 2004. Oxford, United Kingdom: John Wiley & Sons.

Intergroup forgiveness: Does an official apology help?

2004

Journal Article

'You can criticize because you care': Identity attachment, constructiveness, and the intergroup sensitivity effect

Hornsey, Matthew J., Trembath, Mark and Gunthorpe, Sasha (2004). 'You can criticize because you care': Identity attachment, constructiveness, and the intergroup sensitivity effect. European Journal of Social Psychology, 34 (5), 499-518. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.212

'You can criticize because you care': Identity attachment, constructiveness, and the intergroup sensitivity effect

2004

Journal Article

The individual within the group: Balancing the need to belong with the need to be different

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jetten, Jolanda (2004). The individual within the group: Balancing the need to belong with the need to be different. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 8 (3), 248-264. doi: 10.1207/s15327957pspr0803_2

The individual within the group: Balancing the need to belong with the need to be different

2004

Conference Publication

'You can criticise because you care': How attributions affect responses to ingroup and outgroup critics

Hornsey, M.J. (2004). 'You can criticise because you care': How attributions affect responses to ingroup and outgroup critics. 39th Conference of The Australian Psychological Society, Sydney, Australia, 29 September - 3 October, 2004. Basingstoke, U.K.: Routledge (Taylor & Francis Group).

'You can criticise because you care': How attributions affect responses to ingroup and outgroup critics

2004

Journal Article

Willingness to speak out about gay law reform: Some cause for optimism

Hornsey, M. J., Terry, D. J. and McKimmie, B. A. (2004). Willingness to speak out about gay law reform: Some cause for optimism. Journal of Homosexuality, 47 (2), 47-61. doi: 10.1300/J082v47n02_03

Willingness to speak out about gay law reform: Some cause for optimism

2003

Journal Article

Not being what you claim to be: impostors as sources of group threat

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jetten, Jolanda (2003). Not being what you claim to be: impostors as sources of group threat. European Journal of Social Psychology, 33 (5), 639-657. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.176

Not being what you claim to be: impostors as sources of group threat

Current funding

  • 2024 - 2029
    Understanding and overcoming community roadblocks to achieving net-zero
    ARC Australian Laureate Fellowships
    Open grant
  • 2024 - 2027
    Mapping the psychology of accent-based discrimination
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2022 - 2026
    Visualising humanitarian crises: transforming images and aid policy
    ARC Linkage Projects
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    The psychology of understanding and reducing conspiracy beliefs
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2021
    Understanding and overcoming public rejection of scientific innovation
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Behind a moral shield: Responses to trust breaches in mission-based groups
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2015
    Trust breaches in the not-for-profit sector: Causes, consequences and solutions
    UQ Collaboration and Industry Engagement Fund - Seed Research Grant
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2017
    Understanding (and responding to) scepticism about science
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Identifying and resolving challenges to the effectiveness of collective apologies (ARC Discovery Project administered by Flinders University)
    Flinders University
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    Sending and responding to messages about climate change: The role of emotion and morality
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2012
    UQ Category 1 Travel Award - Geoff MacDonald
    UQ Travel Awards for International Collaborative Research (Category 1)
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Promoting intergroup forgiveness: The benefits and pitfalls of apologies and invocations of shared humanity
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2011
    Emotional and political reactions to representations of terrorism
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2009
    UQ Travel Awards Category 1, Dr Michael Wohl
    UQ Travel Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2015
    Rebuilding Government Legitimacy in Post-Conflict Societies: Case Studies of Nepal and Afghanistan/ Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: An Asia-Pacific Case Study, Phase 1A
    United States Air Force Office of Scientific Research
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Negotiating the minefield: social conventions surrounding group criticism and their role in explaining defensiveness
    ARC Linkage International
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    The bitter pill: The psychology of giving and taking interpersonal criticism
    UQ Foundation Research Excellence Awards - DVC(R) Funding
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2009
    What people say and do in response to negative feedback: Explaining and reducing defensiveness toward individual and group criticism
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2006 - 2008
    Exploring The Link Between Group Processes And Outcomes Of Group Psychotherapy
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2005 - 2006
    ESEG_Using group processes to predict outcomes of group cognitive behaviour therapy
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2005
    Using group processes to predict outcomes of group cognitive behaviour therapy
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2004
    Linking group processes and outcomes in group cognitive behaviour therapy
    UQ External Support Enabling Grant
    Open grant
  • 2004 - 2006
    Understanding and reducing defensiveness in the face of group criticism
    ARC Discovery Projects
    Open grant
  • 2003
    Understanding and reducing sensitivity to group criticism: The role of identity, trust, and loyalty
    University of Queensland Research Development Grants Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2001
    Understanding and reducing sensitivity to intergroup and intragroup criticism.
    UQ Early Career Researcher
    Open grant
  • 2000
    The role of group prototypicality in intergroup discrimination
    ARC Australian Research Council (Small grants)
    Open grant

Availability

Professor Matthew Hornsey is:
Available for supervision

Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Master Philosophy

    Rethinking Climate Communication: Integrating Local Contexts and Behavioural Insights in Sub-Saharan Africa

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Associate Professor Nina Lansbury

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Public Perceptions of Climate Change Protests

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Michael Thai

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Understanding and reducing misinformation about climate change

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Samuel Pearson

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Matthew Hornsey directly for media enquiries about:

  • anti-science beliefs
  • climate change skepticism

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