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)

161 - 180 of 244 works

2011

Journal Article

A critical review of official public apologies: Aims, pitfalls, and a staircase model of effectiveness

Wohl, Michael J. A., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Philpot, Catherine R. (2011). A critical review of official public apologies: Aims, pitfalls, and a staircase model of effectiveness. Social Issues and Policy Review, 5 (1), 70-100. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-2409.2011.01026.x

A critical review of official public apologies: Aims, pitfalls, and a staircase model of effectiveness

2011

Journal Article

Emotional responses to rejection of gestures of intergroup reconciliation

Harth, Nicole Syringa, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2011). Emotional responses to rejection of gestures of intergroup reconciliation. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37 (6), 815-829. doi: 10.1177/0146167211400617

Emotional responses to rejection of gestures of intergroup reconciliation

2011

Journal Article

Memory for intergroup apologies and its relationship with forgiveness

Philpot, Catherine R. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2011). Memory for intergroup apologies and its relationship with forgiveness. European Journal of Social Psychology, 41 (1), 96-106. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.741

Memory for intergroup apologies and its relationship with forgiveness

2011

Journal Article

Participant autonomy in cognitive behavioral therapy: An integration of self-determination and cognitive behavioral theories

Dwyer, Lynndall A., Hornsey, Matthew J., Smith, Laura G. E., Oei, Tian P. S. and Dingle, Genevieve A. (2011). Participant autonomy in cognitive behavioral therapy: An integration of self-determination and cognitive behavioral theories. Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, 30 (1), 24-46. doi: 10.1521/jscp.2011.30.1.24

Participant autonomy in cognitive behavioral therapy: An integration of self-determination and cognitive behavioral theories

2011

Book

Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference, and defiance

Jolanda Jetten and Matthew J. Hornsey eds. (2011). Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference, and defiance. Chichester, W Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley Blackwell Publishing.

Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference, and defiance

2011

Book Chapter

Impostors within groups: The psychology of claiming to be something you are not

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Jetten, Jolanda (2011). Impostors within groups: The psychology of claiming to be something you are not. Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference and defiance. (pp. 158-178) edited by Jolanda Jetten and Matthew J. Hornsey. Chichester, United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1002/9781444390841.ch9

Impostors within groups: The psychology of claiming to be something you are not

2011

Book Chapter

The many faces of rebels

Jetten, Jolanda and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2011). The many faces of rebels. Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference and defiance. (pp. 1-13) edited by Jolanda Jetten and Matthew J. Hornsey. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley - Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781444390841.ch1

The many faces of rebels

2011

Book Chapter

Debating deviance: Responding to those who fall from grace

Jetten, Jolanda, Iyer, Aarti, Hutchison, Paul and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2011). Debating deviance: Responding to those who fall from grace. Rebels in groups: Dissent, deviance, difference and defiance. (pp. 117-134) edited by Jolanda Jetten and Matthew J. Hornsey. Chichester, United Kingdom: Wiley - Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781444390841.ch7

Debating deviance: Responding to those who fall from grace

2010

Other Outputs

Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: An Afghanistan case study – Phase 1A

Cherney, Adrian, Fisk, Kylie, Hornsey, Matthew and Smith, Andrew (2010). Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: An Afghanistan case study – Phase 1A. Air Force Office of Scientific Research and the Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development.

Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: An Afghanistan case study – Phase 1A

2010

Journal Article

Does time reduce resistance to out-group critics? An investigation of the persistence of the intergroup sensitivity effect over time

Hiew, Danika N. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2010). Does time reduce resistance to out-group critics? An investigation of the persistence of the intergroup sensitivity effect over time. British Journal of Social Psychology, 49 (3), 569-581. doi: 10.1348/014466609X473938

Does time reduce resistance to out-group critics? An investigation of the persistence of the intergroup sensitivity effect over time

2010

Journal Article

Rule transgressions in groups: The conditional nature of newcomers' willingness to confront deviance

Jetten, J, Hornsey, MJ, Spears, R, Haslam, SA and Cowell, E (2010). Rule transgressions in groups: The conditional nature of newcomers' willingness to confront deviance. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40 (2), 338-348. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.627

Rule transgressions in groups: The conditional nature of newcomers' willingness to confront deviance

2010

Journal Article

United we stand: Intergroup conflict moderates the intergroup sensitivity effect

Ariyanto, Amarina, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Gallois, Cindy (2010). United we stand: Intergroup conflict moderates the intergroup sensitivity effect. European Journal of Social Psychology, 40 (1), 169-177. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.628

United we stand: Intergroup conflict moderates the intergroup sensitivity effect

2010

Journal Article

Collective self-esteem contingency and its role in predicting intergroup bias

Amiot, Catherine E. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2010). Collective self-esteem contingency and its role in predicting intergroup bias. Self and Identity, 9 (1), 62-86. doi: 10.1080/15298860802605895

Collective self-esteem contingency and its role in predicting intergroup bias

2010

Book Chapter

Social identity and moral judgement: The impact of political affiliation on the evaluation of government policy

Abel, Lisa and Hornsey, Matthew (2010). Social identity and moral judgement: The impact of political affiliation on the evaluation of government policy. Personality and individual differences: Current directions. (pp. 113-122) edited by Richard Hicks. Bowen Hills, QLD, Australia: Australian Academic Press.

Social identity and moral judgement: The impact of political affiliation on the evaluation of government policy

2010

Conference Publication

Images of terrorism: The emotional impact of viewing scenes of the aftermath

Vanman, EJ, Iyer, A, Henrion, M, Witowski, P, Berndt, SL, Greenaway, KH and Hornsey, MJ (2010). Images of terrorism: The emotional impact of viewing scenes of the aftermath. 50th Annual Meeting of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, Portland, OR, U.S.A., 29 September-3 October, 2010. Malden, MA, U.S.A.: Blackwell Publishing. doi: 10.1111/j.1469-8986.2010.01111.x

Images of terrorism: The emotional impact of viewing scenes of the aftermath

2010

Book Chapter

Commentary - Toward the development of interdisciplinary theory

Hornsey, Matthew and Gallois, Cindy (2010). Commentary - Toward the development of interdisciplinary theory. Communication Yearbook 34. (pp. 133-139) edited by Charles T. Salmon. New York, U.S.A.: Routledge.

Commentary - Toward the development of interdisciplinary theory

2009

Journal Article

Intergroup attribution bias in the context of extreme intergroup conflict

Ariyanto, Amarina, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Gallois, Cindy (2009). Intergroup attribution bias in the context of extreme intergroup conflict. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 12 (4), 293-299. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-839X.2009.01292.x

Intergroup attribution bias in the context of extreme intergroup conflict

2009

Journal Article

The Effects of Exclusion and Reintegration on the Evaluation of Deviant Opinion Holders

Chan, Marc K. H., Louis, Winnifred R. and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2009). The Effects of Exclusion and Reintegration on the Evaluation of Deviant Opinion Holders. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 35 (12), 1619-1631. doi: 10.1177/0146167209346972

The Effects of Exclusion and Reintegration on the Evaluation of Deviant Opinion Holders

2009

Other Outputs

Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: an Asia Pacific case study, Phase 1A

Fisk, Kylie, Cherney, Adrian, Hornsey, Matthew and Smith, Andrew (2009). Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: an Asia Pacific case study, Phase 1A. Brisbane QLD, Australia: Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR) Asian Office of Aerospace Research and Development (AOARD) University of Queensland.

Rebuilding institutional legitimacy in post-conflict societies: an Asia Pacific case study, Phase 1A

2009

Journal Article

Resistance to Group Criticism and Recommendations for Change: Lessons Learned from the Intergroup Sensitivity Effect

Hornsey, Matthew J. and Esposo, Sarah (2009). Resistance to Group Criticism and Recommendations for Change: Lessons Learned from the Intergroup Sensitivity Effect. Social and Personality Psychology Compass, 3 (3), 275-291. doi: 10.1111/j.1751-9004.2009.00178.x

Resistance to Group Criticism and Recommendations for Change: Lessons Learned from the Intergroup Sensitivity Effect

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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