The Developing Sense of Self

Audience:

Specialist

Distinguished Contribution Award: British Psychology Society

In many ways, humans have become a self-domesticating species selecting for characteristics that are best suited for cooperation, co-existence and coordination. Part of that process is the development of a sense of identity or self. The sense of self is so compelling that we rarely question exactly what it is. When we talk about our self, we usually refer to an autobiographical memory of identity. Or we may be asked to give insight into our immediate consciousness such as, “Tell me what you think?” In both cases, we experience a unity of identity but I would argue that is an illusion that our brains generate to maintain a coherent narrative that summarizes the multitude of influences, factors and past experiences that generate our thoughts and behaviours. In this talk I will argue that we have become self-domesticated, uncovering the illusion of self and how this is formed over our lifetimes.

Neuromyths in the Classroom: What Teachers Need to Know

Audience:

Specialist

In this talk presented to the Annual Conference of the Independent Schools Association, I address the growing problem of beliefs and practices that claim to improve learning and education in children based on misguided, misleading or downright fraudulent neuroscience

Think you don't believe in the supernatural? Think again

Audience:

General

This was a talk at the WIRED event in Oct 2014 in London, where I become inspired to start speakezee.org

The Domesticated Brain

Audience:

General

A talk based on my book, "The Domesticated Brain" given at the RSA, 2014.

The Brain's Greatest Con Trick

Audience:

General

This is a talk based on "The Self Illusion" given at the RSA in 2013 where I argue that the concept of the 'self' is a figment of the brain, generated as a character to weave our internal processes and experiences together into a coherent narrative.

The Self Illusion

Audience:

General

This is the talk I did at TAM2012. I particularly like the intro by my good friend, the amazing George Hrab

Opening Skinner's Box

Audience:

General

In this talk, I describe research on how the human brain has evolved for sociability. The resources include links to the sneezing babies and a recording of a street experiment that we ran just before the show to demonstrate Milgram's power of crowds to make unsuspecting members of the audiences turn

The Science of Belief

Audience:

General

Taster for a documentary on the origins of beliefs

Events

Thu 24 Aug, 12:00

Northampton

Shambala 2017

Mon 13 Mar, 19:00

London

Royal Institution Speakezee Keystone Event

What can neuroscience tell us about our brains, at every stage of our lives? Former Christmas Lecturer Bruce Hood presents Jeff Bowers, Maddy Long and Vincent Walsh for an evening exploring our changing minds from cradle to grave.

Tue 13 Dec, 06:45

Bristol

Bristol Sunset Cinema + Cosmic Shed Live

"Klaatu barada nikto"…a warning about mankind's self-destructive nature? Christ metaphor? Or simply a sci-fi classic? Bristol Sunset Cinema and The Cosmic Shed podcast are teaming up again for another movie night at At-Bristol Planetarium which will include a special HD screening of The Day The Earth Stood Still. After the film, there will be a special live recording of the Cosmic Shed podcast which looks at science fact, science fiction and everything in between. On the panel of scientific experts will be special guest Bruce Hood, Professor of Development Psychology in Society at Bristol University who will be discussing the psychology of supernatural belief and Francesca Stavrakopoulou, an Oxford University-trained theologian, and current Professor of Hebrew Bible And Ancient Religion at the University of Exeter and head of its Department of Theology and Religion. There will also be an audience Q&A and several surprises. All profits from the night will be going to Age UK. The Cosmic Shed is a podcast recorded in a shed in Bishopston. Hosted by Andrew Glester, along with regular contributors Steve Bullock and Maddy Nichols, it explores science fact, science fiction and everything in between. Guests on the podcast have included Benedict Cumberbatch, The Martian author Andy Weir and Apollo 13 Astronaut Fred Haise. Children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. No refunds can be given unless the event is cancelled. *Find out more in our Terms & Conditions.

In The Cosmic Shed we talk about films, books, music, theatre, TV, and anything else that catches our curiosity, from rigorously accurate science fact to ridiculously speculative science fiction.

Sat 27 Feb, 19:00

Exeter

Exeter Speakezee: Why Do We Believe in the Unbelievable

Fri 25 Nov, 02:00

Bristol

Cabot Learning Federation Speakezee Showcase

In this event, we are bringing diverse speakers from Speakezee to talk about mental health issues, the origins of life, how climate change is affecting our oceans to the way researchers study the effects of illegal drugs. There are talks from graduate students, post-doctoral researchers, senior scientists from Bristol and further afield

Pupils, parents and teachers will have the opportunity to ask about the oppotunity to study at university, The event is hosted by Speakezee founder Prof Bruce Hood.

Sat 05 Nov, 13:00

Southampton

TEDx Southampton

Tony Curran – The Burger Apocalypse

Lewis Dartnell – How to rebuild our civilisation

Bruce Hood – Mine! - The Power of Ownership

Don John – Black history matters

George Monbiot & Ewan McLennan – The age of loneliness

Chris Paradox – Fixed ideologies to our common humanity

Anil Seth – What is consciousness?

Grant Sharkey – The Art of Provocation

Jan Williams – The pride of place project

Catherine Wright – Southampton in Conversation

Megan Streb - The Power of Liveable Cities

Wed 14 Sep, 12:30

Belfast

BPS Developmental Section Meeting

Thu 12 May, 14:00

Norwich

ISA Annual Meeting

Thursday 12 May

11.45 Arrival coffee for new members

12.00 Registration and coffee with exhibitors

12.30 The Chair’s address, Sarah Welch, Principal of Gosfield School

1.00 Drinks reception sponsored by Beaumont Coaching and lunch with exhibitors

2.00 The Beauty of Diversity, Francesca Martinez

3.00 Comfort break

3.15 Demonstration: The Gundog Company

3.30 Neuromyths in the Classroom, Prof Bruce Hood, University of Bristol

4.30 Access to bedrooms

5.45 Conference service in the Eaton Suite

6.15 Chairs Drinks Reception

6.30 ISA area drinks receptions

7.00 Dinner followed by the ‘Pub Quiz’

Friday 13 May

8.30 Exhibition and coffee

9.00 Annual General Meeting and tributes to departing serving officers

9.30 It’s not the cards you are dealt in life but the way that you play them, David Thomas, The Memory Man

10.30 Coffee with exhibitors

11.00 Shakespeare workshop, Rachel Gartside, Royal Shakespeare Company

12.00 Update: Discovery Education

12.10 Comfort break

12.20 Talk and discussion: Bullying and snitching in Independent Schools, Niamh O’Brien

1.05 Lunch with exhibitors

2.00 Talk: Baroness Floella Benjamin

3.00 Demonstration: Empiribox

3.15 Tea with exhibitors

4.00 Can all the children be above average? Kenny Logan

5.00 Exhibitor Prize Draw

6.15 Conference photograph for ISA Members, guests and secretariat

7.00 Annual dinner drinks reception – sponsored by the Gundog Company

7.30 Annual dinner (black tie) – sponsored by HP

Saturday 14 May

9.30 A choice of either:

a) A trip to the Sainsbury’s centre to see the Sainsbury Collection, the Alberto Giacometti exhibition or the

Henri Cartier Bresson exhibition

b) A visit to Whitlingham Broad and an outing on the solar boat Ra to experience the watery wildlife at

Whitlingham Country Park

13.00 Lunch

Bruce Hood

Bruce Hood

Experience