Professor Matthew Hornsey

Professor

School of Business
Faculty of Business, Economics and Law
m.hornsey@uq.edu.au
+61 7 344 31218

Overview

Since graduating in 1999 I have published over 200 papers, and in 2018 I was elected a Fellow of the Academy of Social Scientists in Australia. Supported by over 20 external grants, 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.

Research Interests

  • 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
  • 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.

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, The University of Queensland
  • Bachelor (Honours) of Arts, The University of Queensland

Publications

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Supervision

View all Supervision

Publications

Featured Publications

Book

Book Chapter

  • Hornsey, Matthew J. (2024). The intergroup level: moral self- views. The Routledge international handbook of the psychology of morality. (pp. 291-300) edited by Naomi Ellemers, Stefano Pagliaro and Félice van Nunspeet. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003125969-43

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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

  • 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.

  • 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.

  • Hornsey, Matthew J. (2008). Kernel of Truth or Motivated Stereotype?: Interpreting and Responding to Negative Generalizations About Your Group. Stereotype Dynamics: Language-Based Approaches to the Formation, Maintenance, and Transformation of Stereotypes. (pp. 317-337) edited by Kashima, Yoshihisa, Fiedler, Klaus and Freytag, Peter. Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates. doi: 10.4324/9780203809990-24

  • Hornsey, M J (2006). Ingroup critics and their influence on groups. Individuality and the Group: Advances in Social Identity. (pp. 74-91) edited by T. Postmes and J. Jetten. London: Sage Publications.

  • Hogg, M A and Hornsey, M J (2006). Self-concept threat and multiple categorization within groups. Multiple Social Categorization: Processes, Models and Applications. (pp. 112-135) edited by R.J. Crisp and M. Hewstone. East Sussex: Psychology Press. doi: 10.4324/9780203969229

Journal Article

Conference Publication

Other Outputs

Grants (Administered at UQ)

PhD and MPhil Supervision

Current Supervision

  • Doctor Philosophy — Principal Advisor

    Other advisors:

Completed Supervision