Dr Hema Preya Selvanathan

Lecturer (Social Psychology)

School of Psychology

+61 7 336 54962

h.selvanathan@uq.edu.au

Researcher biography

I was born and raised in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. I completed my PhD in social psychology (with a concentration in the psychology of peace and violence) at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (2019). I then moved to the University of Queensland for a postdoctoral research fellowship (2019-2021) and now I am a Lecturer (teaching & research academic) in social psychology. I am part of the Social Identity and Groups Network (SIGN).

A central theme guiding my work is that both social change and the maintenance of the status quo is often achieved through sustained group-based efforts. To this end, I conduct research around ongoing social and political issues using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods in laboratory, online, and field settings across different regions of the world. This research is only possible through close collaboration with my mentors, colleagues, and students. My research interests are: social change and intergroup relations; social movements and collective action; intergroup solidarity; intergroup conflict and reconciliation.

Publications

Book Chapters (2)

Journal Articles (40)

Book Chapters

Crimston, Charlie R. and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2020). Polarisation. Together apart: the psychology of COVID-19. (pp. 107-112) edited by Jolanda Jetten, Stephen D. Reicher, S. Alexander Haslam and Tegan Cruwys. London, United Kingdom: Sage Publications. doi: 10.4135/9781529751680.n18

Reddy, Geetha and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2020). Multiracial in Malaysia: categories, classification, and campur in contemporary everyday life. The Palgrave international handbook of mixed racial and ethnic classification. (pp. 649-668) edited by Zarine L. Rocha and Peter J. Aspinall. Cham, Switzerland: Palgrave Macmillan. doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-22874-3_34

Journal Articles

Maxwell, Christina, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Hames, Sam, Crimston, Charlie R. and Jetten, Jolanda (2025). A mixed‐methods approach to understand victimization discourses by opposing feminist sub‐groups on social media. British Journal of Social Psychology, 64 (1) e12785, e12785. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12785

Dare, Michael, Jetten, Jolanda, Crimston, Charlie R. and Selvanathan, Hema P. (2024). Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires. Journal of Applied Social Psychology, 54 (12), 744-756. doi: 10.1111/jasp.13069

Crimston, Charlie R., Jetten, Jolanda and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2024). “Fight like hell”: Projected moral polarisation predicts anticipated conflict and the perceived responsibility to overturn an election loss. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 27 (7), 1712-1734. doi: 10.1177/13684302231223896

Ionescu, Octavia, Mols, Frank, Álvarez, Belén, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie and Jetten, Jolanda (2024). “We’re not as great as we used to be”: Perceived national status threat and the desire for strong leaders. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 28 (1), 29-49. doi: 10.1177/13684302241265236

Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, González, Roberto and Carvacho, Héctor (2024). Identifying different ‘types’ of participants in the Chilean student movement: A latent transition analysis of collective action intentions, social class and movement identification. Political Psychology, 45 (1), 151-173. doi: 10.1111/pops.12918

Lee, Yan Yee, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Khoo, Ying Hooi and Jetten, Jolanda (2023). Racial majority group’s support for racial equality in Malaysia. Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology, 30 (1), 48-57. doi: 10.1037/pac0000709

Haslam, S. Alexander, Reicher, Stephen D., Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Gaffney, Amber M., Steffens, Niklas K., Packer, Dominic, Van Bavel, Jay J., Ntontis, Evangelos, Neville, Fergus, Vestergren, Sara, Jurstakova, Klara and Platow, Michael J. (2023). Examining the role of Donald Trump and his supporters in the 2021 assault on the U.S. Capitol: a dual-agency model of identity leadership and engaged followership. Leadership Quarterly, 34 (2) 101622, 1-14. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101622

McLamore, Quinnehtukqut, Syropoulos, Stylianos, Leidner, Bernhard, Hirschberger, Gilad, van Bezouw, Maarten J., Rovenpor, Daniel, Paladino, Maria Paola, Baumert, Anna, Bilewicz, Michal, Bilgen, Arda, Chatard, Armand, Chekroun, Peggy, Chinchilla, Juana, Choi, Hoon‐Seok, Euh, Hyun, Gomez, Angel, Kardos, Peter, Khoo, Ying Hooi, Li, Mengyao, Légal, Jean‐Baptiste, Loughnan, Steve, Mari, Silvia, Tan‐Mansukhani, Roseann, Muldoon, Orla, Noor, Masi, Petrović, Nebojša, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Uluğ, Özden Melis, Wohl, Michael J. ... Zein, Rizqy Amelia (2023). The distinct associations of ingroup attachment and glorification with responses to the coronavirus pandemic: Evidence from a multilevel investigation in 21 countries. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (2), 992-1012. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12614

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Uluğ, Özden Melis and Burrows, Brooke (2023). What should allies do? Identifying activist perspectives on the role of white allies in the struggle for racial justice in the United States. European Journal of Social Psychology, 53 (1), 43-60. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2882

Bentley, Sarah V., Young, Tarli, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Haslam, Catherine, Cruwys, Tegan, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Dare, Michael, Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Steffens, Niklas K., Wang, Zhechen and Wibisono, Susilo (2022). Double jeopardy: How lower levels of support during COVID-19 exacerbated the relationship between loneliness and distress. Frontiers in Public Health, 10 976443, 1-13. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.976443

Crimston, Charlie R., Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Jetten, Jolanda (2022). Moral polarization predicts support for authoritarian and progressive strong leaders via the perceived breakdown of society. Political Psychology, 43 (4), 671-691. doi: 10.1111/pops.12787

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Jetten, Jolanda and Umeh, Alexis (2022). A history of collective resilience and collective victimhood: two sides of the same coin that explain Black Americans' present‐day responses to oppression. British Journal of Social Psychology, 62 (1), 136-160. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12562

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Jetten, Jolanda and Crimston, Charlie (2022). Australia Day or Invasion Day? Perspectives on the continuing impact of colonialism underlies public contestations around Australia's national day. Political Psychology, 44 (1), 61-77. doi: 10.1111/pops.12818

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie R. and Jetten, Jolanda (2022). How being rooted in the past can shape the future: the role of social identity continuity in the wish for a strong leader. The Leadership Quarterly, 33 (4) 101608, 101608. doi: 10.1016/j.leaqua.2022.101608

Crimston, Charlie R., Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Bentley, Sarah, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Steffens, Niklas K., Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida and Wibisono, Susilo (2022). Cracks before the crisis: polarization prior to COVID‐19 predicts increased collective angst and economic pessimism. European Journal of Social Psychology, 52 (4), 669-678. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2845

Jetten, Jolanda, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Crimston, Charlie R., Bentley, Sarah V. and Haslam, S. Alexander (2022). Experiments make a good breakfast, but a poor supper. Behavioral and Brain Sciences, 45 e79. doi: 10.1017/s0140525x21000662

Burrows, Brooke, Preya Selvanathan, Hema and Lickel, Brian (2021). My fight or yours: stereotypes of activists from advantaged and disadvantaged groups. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 49 (1), 1461672211060124-124. doi: 10.1177/01461672211060124

Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Álvarez, Belén, Jetten, Jolanda, Bentley, Sarah V., Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Ionescu, Octavia, Jarukasemthawee, Somboon, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Steffens, Niklas K., Wang, Zhechen and Wibisono, Susilo (2021). Unlocking collective cooperation in the midst of COVID‐19: the role of social support in predicting the social class disparity in cooperation. British Journal of Social Psychology, 61 (3), 940-951. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12514

Jetten, Jolanda, Peters, Kim, Álvarez, Belén, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Dare, Michael, Kirkland, Kelly, Sánchez-Rodríguez, Ángel, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Sprong, Stefanie, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Wang, Zhechen and Mols, Frank (2021). Consequences of economic inequality for the social and political vitality of society: a social identity analysis. Political Psychology, 42 (S1), 241-266. doi: 10.1111/pops.12800

Thai, Michael, Lizzio-Wilson, Morgana and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2021). Public perceptions of prejudice research: the double-edged sword faced by marginalized group researchers. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 96 104181, 104181. doi: 10.1016/j.jesp.2021.104181

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Leidner, Bernhard (2021). Normalization of the Alt-Right: How perceived prevalence and acceptability of the Alt-Right is linked to public attitudes. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 25 (6), 1-22. doi: 10.1177/13684302211017633

Hässler, Tabea, Ullrich, Johannes, Sebben, Simone, Shnabel, Nurit, Bernardino, Michelle, Valdenegro, Daniel, Van Laar, Colette, González, Roberto, Visintin, Emilio Paolo, Tropp, Linda R., Ditlmann, Ruth K., Abrams, Dominic, Aydin, Anna Lisa, Pereira, Adrienne, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, von Zimmermann, Jorina, Lantos, Nóra Anna, Sainz, Mario, Glenz, Andreas, Kende, Anna, Oberpfalzerová, Hana, Bilewicz, Michal, Branković, Marija, Noor, Masi, Pasek, Michael H., Wright, Stephen C., Žeželj, Iris, Kuzawinska, Olga, Maloku, Edona ... Pistella, Jessica (2021). Need satisfaction in intergroup contact: a multinational study of pathways toward social change. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 122 (4), 634-658. doi: 10.1037/pspi0000365

Jetten, Jolanda, Bentley, Sarah V., Crimston, Charlie R., Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Haslam, S. Alexander (2021). COVID‐19 and social psychological research: A silver lining. Asian Journal of Social Psychology, 24 (1) ajsp.12465, 34-36. doi: 10.1111/ajsp.12465

Hornsey, Matthew J., Chapman, Cassandra M., Alvarez, Belen, Bentley, Sarah, Casara, Bruno Gabriel Salvador, Crimston, Charlie R., Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Steffens, Niklas K. and Jetten, Jolanda (2021). To what extent are conspiracy theorists concerned for self versus others? A COVID‐19 test case. European Journal of Social Psychology, 51 (2) ejsp.2737, 285-293. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2737

Khoo, Ying Hooi, Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Lickel, Brian (2021). Rights consciousness in Malaysia: How an electoral reform movement fostered a sense of political efficacy amongst citizens. Asian Studies Review, 45 (1), 83-99. doi: 10.1080/10357823.2020.1855109

Putra, Idhamsyah Eka, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Mashuri, Ali and Montiel, Cristina J. (2021). Aung San Suu Kyi’s defensive denial of the Rohingya massacre: a rhetorical analysis of denial and positive-image construction. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 9 (2), 353-369. doi: 10.5964/jspp.7301

Wang, Zhechen, Jetten, Jolanda, Steffens, Niklas K., Álvarez, Belén, Bentley, Sarah V., Salvador Casara, Bruno Gabriel, Crimston, Charlie R., Ionescu, Octavia, Krug, Henning, Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Tanjitpiyanond, Porntida, Wibisono, Susilo, Chen, Shuting, Wang, Jiajun, Zhang, Xin and Sun, Shijin (2021). A world together: global citizen identification as a basis for prosociality in the face of COVID-19. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 26 (1) ARTN 13684302211051619, 71-95. doi: 10.1177/13684302211051619

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Jetten, Jolanda (2020). From marches to movements: building and sustaining a social movement following collective action. Current Opinion in Psychology, 35, 81-85. doi: 10.1016/j.copsyc.2020.04.004

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Lickel, Brian and Jetten, Jolanda (2020). Collective psychological ownership and the rise of reactionary counter‐movements defending the status quo. British Journal of Social Psychology, 60 (2) 12418, 587-609. doi: 10.1111/bjso.12418

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Lickel, Brian (2020). How mainstream and alternative media shape public attitudes toward social change: evidence from two panel studies during Malaysia’s democratic transition. New Media and Society, 23 (12), 1-30. doi: 10.1177/1461444820954355

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Lickel, Brian and Dasgupta, Nilanjana (2020). An integrative framework on the impact of allies: how identity‐based needs influence intergroup solidarity and social movements. European Journal of Social Psychology, 50 (6) ejsp.2697, 1344-1361. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2697

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Leidner, Bernhard (2020). Modes of ingroup identification and notions of justice provide distinct pathways to normative and nonnormative collective action in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. Journal of Conflict Resolution, 64 (9), 002200272090766-1788. doi: 10.1177/0022002720907660

Jetten, Jolanda, Mols, Frank and Selvanathan, Hema Preya (2020). How economic inequality fuels the rise and persistence of the Yellow Vest movement. International Review of Social Psychology, 33 (1) 2, 1-12. doi: 10.5334/irsp.356

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Lickel, Brian (2019). A field study around a racial justice protest on a college campus: the proximal impact of collective action on the social change attitudes of uninvolved bystanders. Journal of Social and Political Psychology, 7 (1), 598-619. doi: 10.5964/jspp.v7i1.1063

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Leidner, Bernhard, Petrović, Nebojša, Prelić, Nedim, Ivanek, Ivan, Krugel, Johannes and Bjekić, Jovana (2019). Wedialog.Net: A quantitative field test of the effects of online intergroup dialogue in promoting justice- versus harmony-oriented outcomes in Bosnia and Serbia. Peace and Conflict, 25 (4), 287-299. doi: 10.1037/pac0000395

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Khoo, Ying Hooi and Lickel, Brian (2019). The role of movement leaders in building intergroup solidarity for social change: a case of the electoral reform movement in Malaysia. European Journal of Social Psychology, 50 (1) ejsp.2598, 224-238. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2598

Selvanathan, Hema Preya and Lickel, Brian (2019). Empowerment and threat in response to mass protest shape public support for a social movement and social change: a panel study in the context of the Bersih movement in Malaysia. European Journal of Social Psychology, 49 (2), 230-243. doi: 10.1002/ejsp.2502

Selvanathan, Hema Preya, Techakesari, Pirathat, Tropp, Linda R. and Barlow, Fiona Kate (2018). Whites for racial justice: how contact with Black Americans predicts support for collective action among White Americans. Group Processes and Intergroup Relations, 21 (6), 893-912. doi: 10.1177/1368430217690908