Matthew Hunsinger, PhD

Matthew earned his M.S. in Cognitive Science at Illinois State University and his PhD in Experimental Social Psychology at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Matthew teaches classes at the School of Graduate Psychology at Pacific University’s terminal master’s program, including Research Methods, Statistics, and Cognitive, Social, and Systems Foundations of Behavior. He is an investigator and statistician in the Mindful Health and Resilience Lab and conducts research on mindfulness, with a current focus on the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on force response decision-making among law enforcement officers.  He also conducts research on implicit bias and conspiratorial thinking.  On the weekends Matthew enjoys hiking, dancing, meditating, and watching movies.

Interests

Implicit bias, meditation/mindfulness, and conspiratorial thinking. 

Education

• BS, University of Mary Washington, 2001, Psychology
• MS, Illinois State University, 2005, Cognitive Science
• PhD, Experimental Social Psychology, University of Massachusetts, 2010

Professional Membership

• American Psychological Association
• American Psychological Society
• Society for Personality and Social Psychology
• Society for the Psychological Study of Social Issues

Selected Recent Publications (*denotes student author)

Ribeiro, L., Christopher, M. S., Colgan, D. D., Kennedy, C., Hunsinger, M., Bowen, S., & Oken, B. S. (2020). Differential impact of mindfulness practices on aggression among law enforcement officers. Mindfulness, 11, 734-745.

Colgan, D. D., Christopher, M., Bowen, S., Brems, C., Hunsinger, M., Tucker, B., & Dapolonia, E. (2019). Mindfulness-based wellness and resilience intervention among interdisciplinary primary care teams: a mixed-methods feasibility and acceptability trial. Primary Health Care Research and Development, 20, e91.

Hunsinger, M., Christopher, M., & Schmidt, A. (2019). The impact of mindfulness training on Implicit bias in law enforcement force response decision-making. Mindfulness, 10(12), 2555-2566.

Christopher, M., Hunsinger, M., Goerling, R., Bowen, S., Rogers, B., Gross, C., Dapolonia, E., & Pruessner, J. (2018). Mindfulness-based resilience training to reduce health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers: A feasibility and preliminary efficacy trial. Psychiatric Research, 264, 104-115.

Schroeder, D. A., Stephens, L., Colgan, D., Hunsinger, M., Rubin, D., & Christopher, M. S. (2018). A brief mindfulness-based intervention for primary care physicians: A pilot randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Lifestyle Medicine, 12, 83-91.

Kaplan, J. B., Bergman, A. L., Christopher, M. S., Bowen, S., & Hunsinger, M. (2017). Role of resilience in mindfulness training for first responders. Mindfulness, 8, 1373-1380.

Christopher, M. S., Goerling, R. J., Rogers, B. S., Hunsinger, M., Baron, G., Bergman, A. L., & Zava, D. T. (2016). A pilot study evaluating the effectiveness of a mindfulness-based intervention on cortisol awakening response and health outcomes among law enforcement officers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 31, 15-28.

Christopher, M., Rogers, Hunsinger, M., Colgan, D., Reiss, A., & Farwood, H. (2015). Distinguishing mindful process from outcome in the prediction of global health and perceived stress in a mindfulness-based stress reduction program. Mindfulness, 6(4), 693-699.

Selected Recent Presentations (*denotes student author)

Hunsinger, M., & Hoke, C. (April, 2018). The impact of a mindfulness-based resilience training on aggression for law-enforcement officers. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.

Koslofsky, S., Stein, S., Von, M., Della Paolera, M., & Hunsinger, M. (November, 2015). Making it work: Educational innovations for interprofessional programs. Paper delivered at the annual meeting of the Association of Schools in Allied Health Professions, Scottsdale, AZ.

Hunsinger, M., Christopher, M., Farwood, H., Dapolonia, E., Rodgers, B., & Georling, R. (May, 2105). Mindfulness in the Workplace. Paper presented at the Midwestern Psychological Association annual meeting, Chicago, IL.

Hunsinger, M. & Christopher, M. (December, 2014). Mindfulness and law enforcement. Presentation at Pacific University Health Professions Campus Faculty Seminar Series, Hillsboro, OR. 

Hunsinger, M. (November, 2014). Mindfulness, unconscious social bias, and law enforcement. Presentation for workshop at the Oregon Mediation Association annual meeting, Portland, OR.

Hunsinger, M., Christopher, M., & Farwood, H. (2014, April). Distinguishing mindfulness process from outcome in a stress reduction program. Paper presented at the Western Psychological Association annual meeting, Portland, OR.

Hunsinger, M., Livingston, R., & Isbell, L. (2011, May). Spiritual paths to intergroup harmony: The relationship between meditation and prejudice. Paper presented at the American Psychological Society annual meeting, Washington, D.C.

Christopher, M., Bowen, S., Goerling, R., & Hunsinger, M. (November, 2018). Feasibility and preliminary impact of Mindfulness-Based Resilience Training on health risk, stress reactivity, and aggression among law enforcement officers. In M. Christopher (Chair), Impact of mindfulness training on biological, behavioral, and psychological outcomes among first responders. Symposium conducted at the biannual Mind & Life International Symposium for Contemplative Research, Phoenix, AZ.