Summary of Why you need to grow up to be happier | Bruce Hood | TEDxUniversityofBristol

00:00:00 - 00:15:00

The speaker discusses how adults who remain egocentric often have difficulty interacting with others and suggests that adults learn to adopt an allocentric perspective. He shares how a course he teaches at the University of Bristol uses psychological distancing to help students learn about the science of happiness.

• 00:00:00 The speaker discusses the developmental stages of an egocentric child, and how adults who remain egocentric often have difficulty interacting with others. The speaker suggests that adults learn to adopt an allocentric perspective, which allows for more cooperative and communicative relationships.
• 00:05:00 The speaker discusses the importance of developing a different perspective in order to be happier, citing the example of a problem that is specific to the individual. He asks the audience to do the same, using the first person, with their personal problems.
• 00:10:00 The speaker discusses how psychological distancing can help alleviate stress and prepare for stressful situations. He shares how a course he teaches at the University of Bristol uses this technique to help students learn about the science of happiness.
• 00:15:00 Bruce Hood explains how looking at our planet from space can help us to perspective our problems more realistically. He notes that it is important for us to grow up and stop being "big babies" in order to have a healthier mental life.