Dr Michael Grugan

Assistant Professor

Department: Psychology

I joined 51�� in 2022 following the submission of my PhD and a series of academic roles at York St John University, including Lecturer, Research Officer for Grants, and Graduate Teaching Assistant.

Since joining the university, I have contributed to teaching, research, and broader academic citizenship within the Department of Psychology. I am an active member of the Health and Wellbeing Research Cluster, contributing to both the Psychopathologies and Optimising Sport and Performance Psychology research groups. I also collaborate regularly with researchers across the UK and internationally, and serve as an editorial board member of the Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology.��

Over the past decade, I have developed a diverse teaching portfolio, recognised by the Higher Education Academy with Fellowship status (FHEA). My teaching primarily focuses on individual differences, psychometrics, and sport and exercise psychology. I currently contribute to undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in these areas of teaching across various programmes, levels of study, and delivery modes.��

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Research Themes and Scholarly Interests

My research focuses on understanding how perfectionism—an aspect of our personality characterised by extreme and irrational requirements for perfection—affects individuals across various contexts, including education and sport.

I also study how the pressure to be perfect can emerge from those around us, such as coaches, teachers, and managers. My work in this area has focused on measuring this type of pressure and examining the consequences faced by individuals in highly perfectionistic environments.

These research areas are important because pressure for perfection, in its various forms, can cause significant distress and interfere with personal and interpersonal goals. Establishing a robust empirical base on the impact of perfectionistic pressure is crucial for future intervention and prevention efforts. To support this aim, my research adopts a quantitative approach, employing contemporary statistical methods, including structural equation modelling (SEM) and network analysis techniques.

I have applied my research and expert knowledge to enhance understanding of perfectionism as a complex personality trait, how it manifests, and how it can be managed when it becomes problematic. Collaborating with organisations such as the Government Legal Service for Scotland, the SEREN Network, and various schools and Higher Education institutions, I have delivered psychoeducational sessions on perfectionism.

Currently, I am engaged in projects focussed on understanding the impact of perfectionism in educational settings, involving teachers, academically gifted (or “more able”) students, and university students. I plan to continue examining perfectionism in these populations and explore potential implications for educational practices.