Justin L Matthews

Dr. Justin L. Matthews is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at California State University, Monterey Bay. His research focuses on cognitive and social psychology, with a particular emphasis on spatial reasoning, language framing, virtual reality applications, and embodied cognition. He has contributed to studies on digital heritage preservation, perspective-taking mechanisms, and physical activity self-worth measurement.

Education: Dr. Matthews holds a Ph.D. in Cognitive and Information Sciences from the University of California, Merced (2011-2014), an M.S. in Social and Cognitive Science from UC Merced (2006-2011), and multiple degrees from California State University, Fresno, including a B.A. in Psychology (2000-2002). He also earned an A.A. in Liberal Studies from College of the Sequoias (1998-2000).

Research Interests: His work bridges cognitive and social psychology, exploring how spatial and social distances influence perception and decision-making. He investigates how virtual experiences shape artifact interpretation, the linguistic framing of events, and the cognitive underpinnings of perspective-taking. His recent focus includes forensic psychology assessments and physical activity-related self-worth in women.

Awards: In 2020, he received the CSUMB Faculty Award for Excellence in Professional Application, recognizing his applied research impact. He is actively involved in community service, serving on the Monterey County Equal Opportunity and Civil Rights Advisory Commission (2016-2021).

Advising and Grants: While specific grants are not detailed here, his research record indicates sustained engagement with funded projects in psychology and cognitive sciences. He has collaborated widely, mentoring students in experimental design and data analysis.

Labs/Teams: No specific lab affiliations are listed, but his work often involves interdisciplinary collaborations in virtual reality, forensic psychology, and social cognition research.