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)

101 - 120 of 244 works

2017

Book Chapter

Stability and change within groups

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jetten, Jolanda (2017). Stability and change within groups. The Oxford Handbook of Social Influence. (pp. 299-315) edited by Stephen G. Harkins, Kipling D. Williams and Jerry Burger. New York, NY, United States: Oxford University Press. doi: 10.1093/oxfordhb/9780199859870.013.10

Stability and change within groups

2016

Journal Article

Barriers to women engaging in collective action to overcome sexism

Radke, Helena R. M., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2016). Barriers to women engaging in collective action to overcome sexism. American Psychologist, 71 (9), 863-874. doi: 10.1037/a0040345

Barriers to women engaging in collective action to overcome sexism

2016

Journal Article

On the link between benevolent sexism and orgasm frequency in heterosexual women

Harris, Emily Ann, Hornsey, Michael J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2016). On the link between benevolent sexism and orgasm frequency in heterosexual women. Archives of Sexual Behavior, 45 (8), 1923-1931. doi: 10.1007/s10508-016-0780-9

On the link between benevolent sexism and orgasm frequency in heterosexual women

2016

Journal Article

Dissent and deviance in intergroup contexts

Hornsey, Matthew J. (2016). Dissent and deviance in intergroup contexts. Current Opinion in Psychology, 11, 1-5. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2016.03.006

Dissent and deviance in intergroup contexts

2016

Journal Article

In small we trust: lay theories about small and large groups

La Macchia, Stephen T., Louis, Winnifred R., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Leonardelli, Geoffrey J. (2016). In small we trust: lay theories about small and large groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 42 (10), 1321-1334. doi: 10.1177/0146167216657360

In small we trust: lay theories about small and large groups

2016

Journal Article

Are people high in skepticism about anthropogenic climate change necessarily resistant to influence? Some cause for optimism

Hornsey, Matthew J., Fielding, Kelly S., McStay, Ryan, Reser, Joseph P. and Bradley, Graham L. (2016). Are people high in skepticism about anthropogenic climate change necessarily resistant to influence? Some cause for optimism. Environment and Behavior, 48 (7), 905-928. doi: 10.1177/0013916515574085

Are people high in skepticism about anthropogenic climate change necessarily resistant to influence? Some cause for optimism

2016

Journal Article

A cautionary note about messages of hope: focusing on progress in reducing carbon emissions weakens mitigation motivation

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Fielding, Kelly S. (2016). A cautionary note about messages of hope: focusing on progress in reducing carbon emissions weakens mitigation motivation. Global Environmental Change, 39, 26-34. doi: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.04.003

A cautionary note about messages of hope: focusing on progress in reducing carbon emissions weakens mitigation motivation

2016

Journal Article

Collective apologies are good at regulating transgressors' emotions, but for victim group members the story is not so clear

Hornsey, Matthew J. (2016). Collective apologies are good at regulating transgressors' emotions, but for victim group members the story is not so clear. Psychological Inquiry, 27 (2), 101-105. doi: 10.1080/1047840X.2016.1160759

Collective apologies are good at regulating transgressors' emotions, but for victim group members the story is not so clear

2016

Journal Article

A social identity approach to understanding responses to child sexual abuse allegations

Minto, Kiara, Hornsey, Matthew J., Gillespie, Nicole, Healy, Karen and Jetten, Jolanda (2016). A social identity approach to understanding responses to child sexual abuse allegations. PLoS One, 11 (4) e0153205, e0153205. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0153205

A social identity approach to understanding responses to child sexual abuse allegations

2016

Journal Article

Friends with moral credentials: minority friendships reduce attributions of racism for majority group members who make conceivably racist statements

Thai, Michael, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2016). Friends with moral credentials: minority friendships reduce attributions of racism for majority group members who make conceivably racist statements. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 7 (3), 272-280. doi: 10.1177/1948550615624140

Friends with moral credentials: minority friendships reduce attributions of racism for majority group members who make conceivably racist statements

2016

Journal Article

A social identity analysis of climate change and environmental attitudes and behaviors: insights and opportunities

Fielding, Kelly S. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2016). A social identity analysis of climate change and environmental attitudes and behaviors: insights and opportunities. Frontiers in Psychology, 7 (121) 00121, 1-12. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2016.00121

A social identity analysis of climate change and environmental attitudes and behaviors: insights and opportunities

2016

Journal Article

Moral expansiveness: Examining variability in the extension of the moral world

Crimston, Charlie R., Bain, Paul G., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Bastian, Brock (2016). Moral expansiveness: Examining variability in the extension of the moral world. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 111 (4), 1-18. doi: 10.1037/pspp0000086

Moral expansiveness: Examining variability in the extension of the moral world

2016

Journal Article

Beyond old dichotomies: individual differentiation can occur through group commitment, not despite it

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jetten, Jolanda (2016). Beyond old dichotomies: individual differentiation can occur through group commitment, not despite it. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 39 (e154) e154. doi: 10.1017/S0140525X15001429

Beyond old dichotomies: individual differentiation can occur through group commitment, not despite it

2016

Journal Article

The Whitewashing Effect: Using racial contact to signal trustworthiness and competence

La Macchia, Stephen T., Louis, Winnifred R., Hornsey, Matthew J., Thai, Michael and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2016). The Whitewashing Effect: Using racial contact to signal trustworthiness and competence. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 42 (1), 118-129. doi: 10.1177/0146167215616801

The Whitewashing Effect: Using racial contact to signal trustworthiness and competence

2015

Journal Article

The impact of a victim-focused apology on forgiveness in an intergroup context

Berndsen, Mariëtte, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Wohl, Michael J. A. (2015). The impact of a victim-focused apology on forgiveness in an intergroup context. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 18 (5), 726-739. doi: 10.1177/1368430215586275

The impact of a victim-focused apology on forgiveness in an intergroup context

2015

Journal Article

Apologies demanded yet devalued: normative dilution in the age of apology

Okimoto, Tyler G., Wenzel, Michael and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2015). Apologies demanded yet devalued: normative dilution in the age of apology. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 60, 133-136. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2015.05.008

Apologies demanded yet devalued: normative dilution in the age of apology

2015

Journal Article

Perpetrator groups can enhance their moral self-image by accepting their own intergroup apologies

Barlow, Fiona Kate, Thai, Michael, Wohl, Michael J. A., White, Sarah, Wright, Marie-Ann and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2015). Perpetrator groups can enhance their moral self-image by accepting their own intergroup apologies. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 60, 39-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2015.05.001

Perpetrator groups can enhance their moral self-image by accepting their own intergroup apologies

2015

Journal Article

A critical test of the assumption that men prefer conformist women and women prefer nonconformist men

Hornsey, Matthew J., Wellauer, Richard, McIntyre, Jason C. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2015). A critical test of the assumption that men prefer conformist women and women prefer nonconformist men. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41 (6), 755-768. doi: 10.1177/0146167215577366

A critical test of the assumption that men prefer conformist women and women prefer nonconformist men

2015

Journal Article

Evidence for motivated control: understanding the paradoxical link between threat and efficacy beliefs about climate change

Hornsey, Matthew J., Fielding, Kelly S., McStay, Ryan, Reser, Joseph P., Bradley, Graham L. and Greenaway, Katharine H. (2015). Evidence for motivated control: understanding the paradoxical link between threat and efficacy beliefs about climate change. Journal of Environmental Psychology, 42, 57-65. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvp.2015.02.003

Evidence for motivated control: understanding the paradoxical link between threat and efficacy beliefs about climate change

2015

Journal Article

Belief in the malleability of groups strengthens the tenuous link between a collective apology and intergroup forgiveness

Wohl, Michael J. A., Cohen-Chen, Smadar, Halperin, Eran, Caouette, Julie, Hayes, Nicole and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2015). Belief in the malleability of groups strengthens the tenuous link between a collective apology and intergroup forgiveness. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 41 (5), 714-725. doi: 10.1177/0146167215576721

Belief in the malleability of groups strengthens the tenuous link between a collective apology and intergroup forgiveness

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

    Other advisors: Dr Justin Brienza

  • 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

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Professor Matthew Hornsey directly for media enquiries about:

  • anti-science beliefs
  • climate change skepticism

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