Professor Bruce Hood is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Bristol and has been a research fellow at Cambridge University and UCL, a visiting scientist at MIT, and a faculty professor at Harvard.
He is the author of several books, including: Possessed, The Self Illusion, Supersense, and most recently: The Science of Happiness, which this interview focuses on.
Expect to learn:
- How malleable our happiness is and the extent to which we can influence it in later life
- The counterintuitive skills and habits of happiness, including striking up conversations with strangers
- The self illusion and the distinction between the “I Self” and the “Me Self”
- The role that altruism and secure attachment play in the happiness equation.
And more..
Follow Bruce on Twitter at @profbrucehood and get a copy of the book at bit.ly/bruce-happiness
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Prof. Bruce Hood, PhD, is a Professor of Developmental Psychology at the University of Bristol, known for his captivating engagement with the public. With diverse research interests spanning from the origins of supernatural beliefs to cognitive development, he founded Speakezee, the world's largest expert speaker network. Formerly a Royal Institution Christmas Lecturer, he's authored popular science books such as "SuperSense" and "The Self Illusion," and has received prestigious awards including an Alfred Sloan Fellowship and recognition from the Society of American Psychological Science.
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Timestamps:
00:00 - Intro
00:39 - Journey to Well-being
04:58 - Redefining Happiness
09:42 - Balancing Control and Connection
16:05 - Importance of Secure Attachment
20:36 - Genetic Predispositions
25:02 - Happiness Beyond Pretense
27:00 - Egocentrism vs. Allocentrism
32:16 - Kindness, Conversations, and Happiness
36:02 - Self-Identity, Illusions, and Peace
40:00 - I Self, Me Self, and Happiness
43:15 - Social Media, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health
48:05 - Finding Meaning in Unexpected Places
59:45 - Reflections on Life's Successes
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Interview Links:
- Prof. Hood’s Twitter - / profbrucehood
- Prof. Hood’s book - t.co/WCnH1rDFIr