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Dr Michael Pluess

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Institution The University of Surrey

Michael Pluess, PhD, is a chartered psychologist and Professor in Developmental Psychology at the University of Surrey’s School of Psychology. Initially trained in chemistry and music, he spent several years working in the lab and on the stage before pursuing his interests in psychology.

Michael’s research investigates how environmental experiences shape the course of psychological development across the life course. More specifically, Dr Pluess considers individual differences in the capacity for environmental sensitivity as a function of different individual characteristics (including genetic and personality attributes), a notion brought forward in the differential susceptibility and vantage sensitivity frameworks.

His work focuses on this trait of sensitivity and its importance in the classroom; exploring the implications for teachers and children; helping educators to identify highly sensitive children (those with a natural ability to notice small details and who think deeply about their experiences) and those who may face challenges because of it; and suggesting practical support strategies for helping highly sensitive learners to thrive in the school environment.

Dr Pluess is also interested in the concept of positive development in contrast to developmental psychopathology. This includes the design and empirical evaluation of intervention programmes aimed at fostering positive development and the investigation of genetic and psychological moderation of such intervention effects. His findings have been published in the leading journals of the field.