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

252 works between 1998 and 2025
All (252) Journal Article (211) Book Chapter (17) Conference Publication (18) Book (4) Other Outputs (2)

141 - 160 of 252 works

2014

Journal Article

The sins of their fathers: when current generations are held to account for the transgressions of previous generations

Goto, Nobuhiko, Jetten, Jolanda, Karasawa, Minoru and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2014). The sins of their fathers: when current generations are held to account for the transgressions of previous generations. Political Psychology, 36 (4), 479-487. doi: 10.1111/pops.12172

The sins of their fathers: when current generations are held to account for the transgressions of previous generations

2014

Journal Article

Social isolation schema responds to positive social experiences: longitudinal evidence from vulnerable populations

Cruwys, Tegan, Dingle, Genevieve A., Hornsey, Matthew J., Jetten, Jolanda, Oei, Tian P. S. and Walter, Zoe C. (2014). Social isolation schema responds to positive social experiences: longitudinal evidence from vulnerable populations. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53 (3), 265-280. doi: 10.1111/bjc.12042

Social isolation schema responds to positive social experiences: longitudinal evidence from vulnerable populations

2014

Journal Article

Gustatory pleasure and pain. The offset of acute physical pain enhances responsiveness to taste

Bastian, Brock, Jetten, Jolanda and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2014). Gustatory pleasure and pain. The offset of acute physical pain enhances responsiveness to taste. Appetite, 72, 150-155. doi: 10.1016/j.appet.2013.10.011

Gustatory pleasure and pain. The offset of acute physical pain enhances responsiveness to taste

2014

Journal Article

From fighting the system to embracing it: control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance

Knight, Clinton G., Tobin, Stephanie J. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2014). From fighting the system to embracing it: control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 54, 139-146. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2014.04.012

From fighting the system to embracing it: control loss promotes system justification among those high in psychological reactance

2014

Journal Article

(Deviant) friends with benefits the impact of group boundary permeability on minority group members’ responses to ethnic deviance

Thai, Michael, Barlow, Fiona Kate and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2014). (Deviant) friends with benefits the impact of group boundary permeability on minority group members’ responses to ethnic deviance. Social Psychological and Personality Science, 5 (3), 360-368. doi: 10.1177/1948550613499939

(Deviant) friends with benefits the impact of group boundary permeability on minority group members’ responses to ethnic deviance

2014

Journal Article

Deviance and dissent in groups

Jetten, Jolanda and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2014). Deviance and dissent in groups. Annual Review of Psychology, 65, 461-485. doi: 10.1146/annurev-psych-010213-115151

Deviance and dissent in groups

2013

Journal Article

The wallpaper effect: the contact hypothesis fails for minority group members who live in areas with a high proportion of majority group members

Barlow, Fiona Kate, Hornsey, Matthew J., Thai, Michael, Sengupta, Nikhil K. and Sibley, Chris G. (2013). The wallpaper effect: the contact hypothesis fails for minority group members who live in areas with a high proportion of majority group members. PloS One, 8 (12) e82228, 2152-2178. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0082228

The wallpaper effect: the contact hypothesis fails for minority group members who live in areas with a high proportion of majority group members

2013

Journal Article

Perceived control qualifies the effects of threat on prejudice

Greenaway, Katharine H., Louis, Winnifred R., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jones, Janelle M. (2013). Perceived control qualifies the effects of threat on prejudice. British Journal of Social Psychology, 53 (3), 422-442. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12049

Perceived control qualifies the effects of threat on prejudice

2013

Journal Article

Loss of Control Increases Belief in Precognition and Belief in Precognition Increases Control

Greenaway, Katharine H., Louis, Winnifred R. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2013). Loss of Control Increases Belief in Precognition and Belief in Precognition Increases Control. PLoS ONE, 8 (8) e71327, e71327.1-e71327.5. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0071327

Loss of Control Increases Belief in Precognition and Belief in Precognition Increases Control

2013

Journal Article

Shooting the messenger: outsiders critical of your group are rejected regardless of argument quality

Esposo, Sarah R., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Spoor, Jennifer R. (2013). Shooting the messenger: outsiders critical of your group are rejected regardless of argument quality. British Journal of Social Psychology, 52 (2), 386-395. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12024

Shooting the messenger: outsiders critical of your group are rejected regardless of argument quality

2013

Journal Article

Collective futures: how projections about the future of society are related to actions and attitudes supporting social change

Bain, Paul G., Hornsey, Matthew J., Bongiorno, Renata, Kashima, Yoshihisa and Crimston, Charlie R. (2013). Collective futures: how projections about the future of society are related to actions and attitudes supporting social change. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 39 (4), 523-539. doi: 10.1177/0146167213478200

Collective futures: how projections about the future of society are related to actions and attitudes supporting social change

2013

Journal Article

We are sorry: intergroup apologies and their tenuous link with intergroup forgiveness

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Wohl, Michael J. A. (2013). We are sorry: intergroup apologies and their tenuous link with intergroup forgiveness. European Review of Social Psychology, 24 (1), 1-31. doi: 10.1080/10463283.2013.822206

We are sorry: intergroup apologies and their tenuous link with intergroup forgiveness

2012

Journal Article

The contact caveat: negative contact predicts increased prejudice more than positive contact predicts reduced prejudice

Barlow, Fiona Kate, Paolini, Stefania, Pedersen, Anne, Hornsey, Matthew J., Radke, Helena R. M., Harwood, Jake, Rubin, Mark and Sibley, Chris G. (2012). The contact caveat: negative contact predicts increased prejudice more than positive contact predicts reduced prejudice. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38 (12), 1629-1643. doi: 10.1177/0146167212457953

The contact caveat: negative contact predicts increased prejudice more than positive contact predicts reduced prejudice

2012

Journal Article

Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?

Jeffries, Carla H. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2012). Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51 (4), 772-780. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2012.02098.x

Withholding negative feedback: is it about protecting the self or protecting others?

2012

Journal Article

Using computer-aided content analysis to map a research domain: a case study of institutional legitimacy in postconflict East Timor

Fisk, Kylie, Cherney, Adrian, Hornsey, Matthew and Smith, Andrew (2012). Using computer-aided content analysis to map a research domain: a case study of institutional legitimacy in postconflict East Timor. Sage Open, 2 (4), 1-15. doi: 10.1177/2158244012467788

Using computer-aided content analysis to map a research domain: a case study of institutional legitimacy in postconflict East Timor

2012

Journal Article

Promoting pro-environmental action in climate change deniers

Bain, Paul G., Hornsey, Matthew J., Bongiorno, Renata and Jeffries, Carla (2012). Promoting pro-environmental action in climate change deniers. Nature Climate Change, 2 (8), 600-603. doi: 10.1038/NCLIMATE1532

Promoting pro-environmental action in climate change deniers

2012

Journal Article

The David and Goliath principle: Cultural, ideological, and attitudinal underpinnings of the normative protection of low-status groups from criticism

Jeffries, Carla H., Hornsey, Matthew J., Sutton, Robbie M., Douglas, Karen M. and Bain, Paul G. (2012). The David and Goliath principle: Cultural, ideological, and attitudinal underpinnings of the normative protection of low-status groups from criticism. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 38 (8), 1053-1065. doi: 10.1177/0146167212444454

The David and Goliath principle: Cultural, ideological, and attitudinal underpinnings of the normative protection of low-status groups from criticism

2012

Journal Article

Rejection as a call to arms: Interracial hostility and support for political action as outcomes of race-based rejection in majority and minority groups

Barlow, Fiona Kate, Sibley, Chris G. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2012). Rejection as a call to arms: Interracial hostility and support for political action as outcomes of race-based rejection in majority and minority groups. British Journal of Social Psychology, 51 (1), 167-177. doi: 10.1111/j.2044-8309.2011.02040.x

Rejection as a call to arms: Interracial hostility and support for political action as outcomes of race-based rejection in majority and minority groups

2012

Journal Article

Testing a single-item visual analogue scale as a proxy for cohesiveness in group psychotherapy

Hornsey, Matthew J., Olsen, Sara, Barlow, Fiona Kate and Oei, Tian P. S. (2012). Testing a single-item visual analogue scale as a proxy for cohesiveness in group psychotherapy. Group Dynamics, 16 (1), 80-90. doi: 10.1037/a0024545

Testing a single-item visual analogue scale as a proxy for cohesiveness in group psychotherapy

2012

Journal Article

Why group apologies succeed and fail: intergroup forgiveness and the role of primary and secondary emotions

Wohl, Michael J. A., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Bennett, Shannon H. (2012). Why group apologies succeed and fail: intergroup forgiveness and the role of primary and secondary emotions. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 102 (2), 306-322. doi: 10.1037/a0024838

Why group apologies succeed and fail: intergroup forgiveness and the role of primary and secondary emotions

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

    Designing for voice: Exploring the acceptability of structured analytic techniques in decision-making teams

    Principal Advisor

    Other advisors: Dr Justin Brienza

  • 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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