Overview
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
Qualifications
- Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland
- Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
Research interests
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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.
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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.
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Conspiracy theories
I examine why people believe in conspiracy theories, the consequences of conspiracy theories, and strategies for reducing their negative impacts
Works
Search Professor Matthew Hornsey’s works on UQ eSpace
2012
Journal Article
Feeling bad about being sad: the role of social expectancies in ampllifying negative mood
Bastian, Brock, Kuppens, Peter, Hornsey, Matthew J., Park, Joonha, Koval, Peter and Uchida, Yukiko (2012). Feeling bad about being sad: the role of social expectancies in ampllifying negative mood. Emotion, 12 (1), 69-80. doi: 10.1037/a0024755
2012
Book Chapter
Humanizing others without normalizing harm: the role of human concepts and categories in intergroup reconciliation and forgiveness
Morton, Thomas A., Hornsey, Matthew J. and Postmes, Tom (2012). Humanizing others without normalizing harm: the role of human concepts and categories in intergroup reconciliation and forgiveness. Restoring civil societies: the psychology of intervention and engagement following crisis. (pp. 156-174) edited by Kai J. Jonas and Thomas A. Morton. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley - Blackwell Publishers. doi: 10.1002/9781118347683.ch9
2012
Book
Rebels in groups: dissent, deviance, difference and defiance
Jolanda Jetten and Matthew J. Hornsey eds. (2012). Rebels in groups: dissent, deviance, difference and defiance. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1002/9781444390841
2012
Book Chapter
Feedback: an introduction
Sutton, Robbie, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Douglas, Karen (2012). Feedback: an introduction. Feedback: the communication of praise, criticism and advice. (pp. 1-12) edited by Robbie Sutton, Matthew J. Horney and Karen M. Douglas. New York, NY, United States: Peter Lang.
2012
Book Chapter
Conformity: revisiting Asch's line judgement studies
Jetten, Jolanda and Hornsey, Matthew J. (2012). Conformity: revisiting Asch's line judgement studies. Social Psychology: revisiting the classic studies. (pp. 76-90) edited by Joanne R. Smith and S. Alexander Haslam. London, United Kingdom: Sage.
2012
Book
Feedback: the communication of praise, criticism and advice
Robbie M. Sutton, Matthew J. Hornsey and Karen M. Douglas eds. (2012). Feedback: the communication of praise, criticism and advice. Language as Social Action, New York, NY, United States: Peter Lang.
2012
Book Chapter
Feedback: conclusions
Sutton, Robbie, Hornsey, Matthew J. and Douglas, Karen (2012). Feedback: conclusions. Feedback: The communication of praise, criticism and advice. (pp. 325-344) edited by Robbie Sutton, Matthew J. Horney and Karen M. Douglas. New York, NY, United States: Peter Lang.
2012
Book Chapter
More science than art: understanding and reducing defensiveness in the face of criticism of groups and cultures
Hornsey, Matthew J., Jeffries, Carla and Esposo, Sarah (2012). More science than art: understanding and reducing defensiveness in the face of criticism of groups and cultures. Feedback: The communication of praise, criticism and advice. (pp. 123-136) edited by Robbie M. Sutton, Matthew J. Hornsey and Karen M. Douglas. New York, NY, United States: Peter Lang.
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
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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
Funding
Current funding
Supervision
Availability
- Professor Matthew Hornsey is:
- Available for supervision
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Supervision history
Current supervision
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Doctor Philosophy
Public Perceptions of Climate Change Protests
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Michael Thai
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Doctor Philosophy
Understanding and reducing misinformation about climate change
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Samuel Pearson
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Doctor Philosophy
Designing for voice: Exploring the acceptability of structured analytic techniques in decision-making teams
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Justin Brienza
Completed supervision
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2023
Doctor Philosophy
Manifesting Success: The Role of Magical Thinking in Attraction to Multi-Level Marketing Business Opportunities
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Nicole Hartley
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2019
Doctor Philosophy
Ideological Correlates of Sexual Behavior: Linking political ideology, religiosity, and gender ideology with orgasm and desire
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
The "rules of engagement": Social conventions surrounding the communication of criticism
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Associate Professor Courtney von Hippel
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2011
Doctor Philosophy
The Anatomy of Defensiveness in the Face of Group Criticism: Understanding the Causes of the Intergroup Sensitivity Effect
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Winnifred Louis
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
Communicating across the urban-rural divide: How identity influences responses to sustainable land use campaigns
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
'What's in it for me?' Employee knowledge sharing on knowledge management systems: Normative and social exchange perspectives
Principal Advisor
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2009
Doctor Philosophy
The Influence of Group Norms, Audiences, and Social Identities on Moral Judgement
Principal Advisor
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2008
Doctor Philosophy
Mechanisms of Change in Cognitive-Behavioural Group Therapy: The Role of Cognitive Change and Group Processes
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Emeritus Professor Tian Po Oei
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2007
Doctor Philosophy
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN GROUPS SAY SORRY? THE EFFECTS OF INTERGROUP APOLOGIES FOR THEIR RECEIPIENTS
Principal Advisor
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2005
Doctor Philosophy
Intergroup biases in the reporting and perceiving of Muslim-Christian conflict in Indonesia
Principal Advisor
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2022
Doctor Philosophy
It's the Way You Speak: A Modern Account of "Accent-ism"
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Kana Imuta
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Developing a greater understanding of parental relinquishment of care in the disability sector
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Nankervis
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2017
Doctor Philosophy
Why can't we all just get along? A social psychological examination of women's intra-gender hostility
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Barbara Masser
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
An empirical investigation of gender, sexual attitudes, weight bias and body image
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
From opposition to alliance: Asian Westerners' drive to fit in to a White society
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
A Conceptual Model of Quality Service Provision for People with Intellectual Disability and Challenging Behaviours: Enhancement and Enrichment through Service User and Other Stakeholder Consultation
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Karen Nankervis
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Refining the boundary conditions of system justification theory: extending our understanding of how and why people justify sociopolitical systems
Associate Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Lay Theories Relating to the Trustworthiness of Groups
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Winnifred Louis
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Investigating positive and negative intergroup contact in majority and minority groups
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Barriers to women engaging in collective action to overcome sexism
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Fiona Barlow
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2015
Doctor Philosophy
Power, Identity and Social Rules: an investigation with hospital doctors and nurses
Associate Advisor
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2012
Doctor Philosophy
Psychological Strategies for Control Restoration
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Winnifred Louis
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2010
Doctor Philosophy
Group opinion change and reintegration of deviant group members
Associate Advisor
Other advisors: Professor Winnifred Louis
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2004
Doctor Philosophy
THE ROLE OF INGROUP NORMS OF INDIVIDUALISM ON GROUP MEMBERS LEVELS OF CONFORMITY AND INTERGROUP DISCRIMINATION
Joint Principal Advisor
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2016
Doctor Philosophy
Moral Expansiveness: A Psychological Exploration of Moral Boundaries, Self-Sacrifice, and Moral Flexibility.
Associate Advisor
Media
Enquiries
Contact Professor Matthew Hornsey directly for media enquiries about:
- anti-science beliefs
- climate change skepticism
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