Do you often find yourself doubting your abilities, even in the face of your own success? Do you find it difficult to celebrate your achievements or believe it when someone pays you a compliment? We all have moments of self-doubt, but if you’re feeling weighed down by them and want to challenge negative thought patterns, this is the masterclass for you.

In this enlightening workshop, Dr Thomas Curran, the acclaimed professor of psychology at the London School of Economics, will delve into the nature of perfectionism and impostor syndrome, their negative impacts on our lives, and most importantly, effective ways to combat them.

Gathering a wide range of contemporary evidence, he will explore the paradoxical effects of perfectionism and show what we can do to resist the modern-day pressure to be perfect. This validating workshop will help you to place impostor syndrome in a broader context so that you might understand why you feel as you do, recognise the warning signs and break free.

Course content

The origins of impostor syndrome and deficit thinking
Why perfectionism is the inevitable coping mechanism
What perfectionism does do to us – and why
Tips for challenging and reframing deficit thinking
Q&A

Tutor profile

Thomas Curran is a professor of psychology at the London School of Economics and the author of a landmark study that the BBC hailed as “the first to compare perfectionism across generations.” His TED Talk on perfectionism has received more than three million views. His research has been featured in media ranging from the Harvard Business Review and New Scientist to CNN, and he has appeared on numerous television and radio programs. He is the author of The Perfection Trap, which is out in June 2023.

Thomas’ new book The Perfection Trap: The Power Of Good Enough In A World That Always Wants More will be published on 1 June and is available to pre-order in hardback from the Guardian Bookshop. If you are in the UK, you can purchase a book and ticket for the special discounted price of £81.46 including P&P.

Course Details

Date: Thursday 8 June 2023
Time: 6.30pm-8.30pm (BST)

A catch up recording will be shared after the class and will be available for two weeks.

This masterclass is available globally. If you are joining us from outside the United Kingdom, please use this time zone converter to check your local live streaming time.

6.30pm BST | 7.30pm CEST | 10.30am PDT | 1.30pm EDT

You will be sent a link to the webinar 24 hours and 30 minutes before the start time. Please email masterclasses@theguardian.com if you do not receive the access link 24 hours before the scheduled start time.

We aim to make Guardian Masterclasses accessible to all. If you require any adjustments to enable your participation in this course, please get in touch with us at masterclasses@theguardian.com.

This event will be hosted on a third-party live streaming platform Zoom, please refer to their privacy policy and terms and conditions before purchasing a ticket to the class.

Once a purchase is complete we will not be able to refund you where you do not attend or if you cancel your event booking. Please see our terms and conditions for more information on our refund policy.

Understanding perfectionism and impostor syndrome with Dr Thomas Curran