Michael Pluess

I completed my BSc in Psychology and MSc in Clinical Psychology at the University of Basel, Switzerland. I then moved to London where I conducted my doctoral studies at Birkbeck University of London under the supervision of Prof Jay Belsky. After postdoctoral work at University of East London and University of California Davis, I took up an excellence fellowship at King’s College London. In 2013 I then transitioned to Queen Mary University of London whilst also holding a visiting appointment at London School of Economics. Since June 2023, I’m based at University of Surrey.
My research focuses on three areas: 1) individual differences in Environmental Sensitivity, the notion that some people are more affected by both negative and positive experiences due to being more sensitive to environmental influences, 2) Positive Development, such as the development and evaluation of interventions aimed at promoting the development of psychological well-being in children and adults, and 3) Mental Health and Resilience in Humanitarian Crises, including longitudinal studies and randomised controlled trials on mental health interventions in humanitarian settings.