Bruce Hood is a well-known British experimental psychologist who focuses on developmental cognitive neuroscience. He earned his Ph.D. from Cambridge University and has worked at both Cambridge and University College London. He has also been a visiting scientist at MIT and a faculty professor at Harvard University. Since 2000, he has been a Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at the University of Bristol. His research looks at cognitive development through a neuroscience lens, covering topics like superstition, self-identity, and happiness. He studies how thoughts and actions are controlled, spatial understanding, and naive theories, especially how these affect adult magical reasoning based on children's intuitions. Hood has written several popular science books, including "SuperSense," which explores the origins of supernatural beliefs; "The Self Illusion," which discusses how our identities are shaped by narratives; "The Domesticated Brain," which examines the link between the brain and social behavior; and "Possessed," which focuses on human behavior and cognition. His work in neuroscience has earned him several awards, including the Alfred Sloan Fellowship in Neuroscience, the Young Investigator Award from the International Society of Infancy Researchers, and the Robert Fantz Memorial Award in developmental psychology. He is a Fellow of the Society of Biology (UK), the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and the American Psychological Society. Hood has shared his knowledge with the public through various channels, such as presenting the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2011, contributing to the documentary "Breath of Life," and co-hosting the BBC podcast "The Happiness Half Hour." He also founded ZoomTalks.org, which connects academia with the public. His ability to explain complex scientific ideas has made him a significant figure in both academic and public discussions.
