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Bruce Hood

Bruce is Professor of Developmental Psychology at Bristol University, a leading researcher in child development, superstition and happiness. A former Harvard professor, he presented the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures, appears regularly in the media and has authored five science books. His latest, The Science of Happiness, is a global bestseller.
Year
2025
Institution
University of Bristol
Job Title
Chair of Developmental Psychology in Society

Bruce is Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at Bristol University since 1999. He undertook his PhD in neuroscience at Cambridge followed by appointments at University College London, MIT and a faculty professorship at Harvard. He researches child development, origins of superstition, self-identity and ownership. For the past six years he has been concentrating on how to make students happier. Bruce has won numerous professional awards and has an Honorary Doctorate from Abertay University in Scotland. 

He is a Fellow of the Association for Psychological Science, the Royal Institution of Great Britain and the British Psychological Society. In 2011, he was chosen to present the highly prestigious Royal Institution Christmas Lectures ‘Meet Your Brain’ which were broadcast on the BBC to over four million viewers and went on tour to Japan, Singapore, China and South Korea in 2012. 

Since then, Bruce has made numerous media appearances on radio and TV and starred in the 2019 award-winning eco-movie, ‘Living in the Future’s Past’ with Academy Award winner, Jeff Bridges. Bruce has written five popular science books published in 32 countries. His latest, ‘The Science of Happiness: Seven Lessons for Living Well’ is already a best-seller. 

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