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

244 works between 1998 and 2025
All (244) Journal Article (204) Book Chapter (16) Conference Publication (18) Book (4) Other Outputs (2)

41 - 60 of 244 works

2022

Journal Article

Determinants of self-reported adherence to COVID-19 regulations in Spain: social norms, trust and risk perception

Cabrera-Álvarez, Pablo, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Lobera, Josep (2022). Determinants of self-reported adherence to COVID-19 regulations in Spain: social norms, trust and risk perception. Health Promotion International, 37 (6) daac138, 1-9. doi: 10.1093/heapro/daac138

Determinants of self-reported adherence to COVID-19 regulations in Spain: social norms, trust and risk perception

2022

Journal Article

Multinational data show that conspiracy beliefs are associated with the perception (and reality) of poor national economic performance

Hornsey, Matthew J., Pearson, Samuel, Kang, Jemima, Sassenberg, Kai, Jetten, Jolanda, Van Lange, Paul A. M., Medina, Lucia G., Amiot, Catherine E., Ausmees, Liisi, Baguma, Peter, Barry, Oumar, Becker, Maja, Bilewicz, Michal, Castelain, Thomas, Costantini, Giulio, Dimdins, Girts, Espinosa, Agustín, Finchilescu, Gillian, Friese, Malte, González, Roberto, Goto, Nobuhiko, Gómez, Ángel, Halama, Peter, Ilustrisimo, Ruby, Jiga‐Boy, Gabriela M., Karl, Johannes, Kuppens, Peter, Loughnan, Steve, Markovikj, Marijana ... Bastian, Brock (2022). Multinational data show that conspiracy beliefs are associated with the perception (and reality) of poor national economic performance. European Journal of Social Psychology, 53 (1), 78-89. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2888

Multinational data show that conspiracy beliefs are associated with the perception (and reality) of poor national economic performance

2022

Journal Article

Nonprofit scandals: A systematic review and conceptual framework

Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J., Gillespie, Nicole and Lockey, Steve (2022). Nonprofit scandals: A systematic review and conceptual framework. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 52 (1_suppl), 089976402211295-312S. doi: 10.1177/08997640221129541

Nonprofit scandals: A systematic review and conceptual framework

2022

Journal Article

Cross-national differences in willingness to believe conspiracy theories

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Pearson, Samuel (2022). Cross-national differences in willingness to believe conspiracy theories. Current Opinion in Psychology, 47 101391, 1-6. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2022.101391

Cross-national differences in willingness to believe conspiracy theories

2022

Journal Article

Give where you live: a social network analysis of charitable donations reveals localized prosociality

Chapman, Cassandra M., Louis, Winnifred R., Masser, Barbara M., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Broccatelli, Chiara (2022). Give where you live: a social network analysis of charitable donations reveals localized prosociality. Journal of Consumer Behaviour, 21 (5), 1106-1120. doi: 10.1002/cb.2058

Give where you live: a social network analysis of charitable donations reveals localized prosociality

2022

Journal Article

Climate skepticism decreases when the planet gets hotter and conservative support wanes

Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Humphrey, Jacquelyn E. (2022). Climate skepticism decreases when the planet gets hotter and conservative support wanes. Global Environmental Change, 74 102492, 102492. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2022.102492

Climate skepticism decreases when the planet gets hotter and conservative support wanes

2022

Journal Article

Protecting the planet or destroying the universe? Understanding reactions to space mining

Hornsey, Matthew J., Fielding, Kelly S., Harris, Emily A., Bain, Paul G., Grice, Tim and Chapman, Cassandra M. (2022). Protecting the planet or destroying the universe? Understanding reactions to space mining. Sustainability, 14 (7) 4119, 4119. doi: 10.3390/su14074119

Protecting the planet or destroying the universe? Understanding reactions to space mining

2022

Journal Article

Belief in luck and precognition around the world

Harris, Emily A., Milfont, Taciano L. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2022). Belief in luck and precognition around the world. Journal of Cross-Cultural Psychology, 53 (9), 1033-1053. doi: 10.1177/00220221221110462

Belief in luck and precognition around the world

2021

Journal Article

Comparing the effectiveness of post-scandal apologies from nonprofit and commercial organizations: an extension of the moral disillusionment model

Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J., Mangan, Heidi, Gillespie, Nicole, La Macchia, Stephen and Lockey, Steven (2021). Comparing the effectiveness of post-scandal apologies from nonprofit and commercial organizations: an extension of the moral disillusionment model. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 51 (6), 089976402110626-1280. doi: 10.1177/08997640211062666

Comparing the effectiveness of post-scandal apologies from nonprofit and commercial organizations: an extension of the moral disillusionment model

2021

Journal Article

The role of worldviews in shaping how people appraise climate change

Hornsey, Matthew J (2021). The role of worldviews in shaping how people appraise climate change. Current Opinion in Behavioral Sciences, 42, 36-41. doi: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2021.02.021

The role of worldviews in shaping how people appraise climate change

2021

Journal Article

Ripple effects: can information about the collective impact of individual actions boost perceived efficacy about climate change?

Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M. and Oelrichs, Dexter M. (2021). Ripple effects: can information about the collective impact of individual actions boost perceived efficacy about climate change?. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 97 104217, 104217. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104217

Ripple effects: can information about the collective impact of individual actions boost perceived efficacy about climate change?

2021

Journal Article

Psychological Science in the Wake of COVID-19: social, methodological, and metascientific considerations

Rosenfeld, Daniel L., Balcetis, Emily, Bastian, Brock, Berkman, Elliot T., Bosson, Jennifer K., Brannon, Tiffany N., Burrow, Anthony L., Cameron, C. Daryl, Chen, Serena, Cook, Jonathan E., Crandall, Christian, Davidai, Shai, Dhont, Kristof, Eastwick, Paul W., Gaither, Sarah E., Gangestad, Steven W., Gilovich, Thomas, Gray, Kurt, Haines, Elizabeth L., Haselton, Martie G., Haslam, Nick, Hodson, Gordon, Hogg, Michael A., Hornsey, Matthew J., Huo, Yuen J., Joel, Samantha, Kachanoff, Frank J., Kraft-Todd, Gordon, Leary, Mark R. ... Tomiyama, A. Janet (2021). Psychological Science in the Wake of COVID-19: social, methodological, and metascientific considerations. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 17 (2) 1745691621999374, 1745691621999374-333. doi: 10.1177/1745691621999374

Psychological Science in the Wake of COVID-19: social, methodological, and metascientific considerations

2021

Journal Article

The psychology of the antivaccine movement

Hornsey, Matthew (2021). The psychology of the antivaccine movement. Biochemist, 43 (4), 52-54. doi: 10.1042/bio_2021_162

The psychology of the antivaccine movement

2021

Journal Article

Pro‐vaccination subjective norms moderate the relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions

Winter, Kevin, Pummerer, Lotte, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Sassenberg, Kai (2021). Pro‐vaccination subjective norms moderate the relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions. British Journal of Health Psychology, 27 (2) bjhp.12550, 1-16. doi: 10.1111/bjhp.12550

Pro‐vaccination subjective norms moderate the relationship between conspiracy mentality and vaccination intentions

2021

Conference Publication

Understanding intergroup conflicts between residents and tourists

Chien, P. Monica, Hornsey, Matthew, Nagatomo, Jun and Pappu, Ravi (2021). Understanding intergroup conflicts between residents and tourists. Japan Society for Tourism Studies Annual Conference, Kyoto, Japan, 3-4 July 2021.

Understanding intergroup conflicts between residents and tourists

2021

Book Chapter

Trust repair: a multilevel framework

Gillespie, Nicole, Lockey, Steve, Hornsey, Matthew and Okimoto, Tyler (2021). Trust repair: a multilevel framework. Understanding trust in organizations: a multilevel perspective. (pp. 143-176) New York, NY., United States of America: Taylor and Francis. doi: 10.4324/9780429449185

Trust repair: a multilevel framework

2021

Journal Article

What does it mean to feel small? Three dimensions of the small self

Tyson, Courtney, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2021). What does it mean to feel small? Three dimensions of the small self. Self and Identity, 21 (4), 1-19. doi: 10.1080/15298868.2021.1921018

What does it mean to feel small? Three dimensions of the small self

2021

Journal Article

To what extent is trust a prerequisite for charitable giving? A systematic review and meta-analysis

Chapman, Cassandra M., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Gillespie, Nicole (2021). To what extent is trust a prerequisite for charitable giving? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector Quarterly, 50 (6) 08997640211003250, 089976402110032-1303. doi: 10.1177/08997640211003250

To what extent is trust a prerequisite for charitable giving? A systematic review and meta-analysis

2021

Journal Article

Something about the way you speak: a meta‐analysis on children’s linguistic‐based social preferences

Spence, Jessica L., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Imuta, Kana (2021). Something about the way you speak: a meta‐analysis on children’s linguistic‐based social preferences. Child Development, 92 (2), 517-535. doi: 10.1111/cdev.13548

Something about the way you speak: a meta‐analysis on children’s linguistic‐based social preferences

2021

Journal Article

Resolving the small-pockets problem helps clarify the role of education and political ideology in shaping vaccine scepticism

Hornsey, Matthew J., Edwards, Martin, Lobera, Josep, Diaz-Catalan, Celia and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2021). Resolving the small-pockets problem helps clarify the role of education and political ideology in shaping vaccine scepticism. British Journal of Psychology, 112 (4), 992-1011. doi: 10.1111/bjop.12500

Resolving the small-pockets problem helps clarify the role of education and political ideology in shaping vaccine scepticism

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

Before you email them, read our advice on how to contact a supervisor.

Supervision history

Current supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of applying traditional intelligence techniques to complex business problems

    Principal Advisor

  • Doctor Philosophy

    Public Perceptions of Climate Change Protests

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Michael Thai

  • Doctor Philosophy

    The impact of applying traditional intelligence techniques to complex business problems

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Justin Brienza

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Matthew Hornsey directly for media enquiries about:

  • anti-science beliefs
  • climate change skepticism

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