Paul Bloom

Paul Bloom

Professor of Psychology

Paul Bloom is the Brooks and Suzanne Ragen Professor of Psychology at Yale University. An internationally recognized expert on the psychology of child development, social reasoning, and morality, he has won numerous awards for his research, writing, and teaching. Bloom’s previous books include Just Babies: The Origins of Good and Evil and How Pleasure Works: The New Science of Why We Like What We Like, and he has written for Science, Nature, The New York Times, and The New Yorker.

Two hands reaching towards each other against a bright blue sky with clouds, subtly exploring why empathy is bad when it leads to emotional overwhelm.
5 min
Not an empathetic person? Here’s why that might be a good thing.
John Templeton Foundation
A gold crown with pointed tips and ornate detailing is shown against a solid blue background, symbolizing the evolution of kindness through regal elegance.
4 min
We evolved to be kind – and die for others.
John Templeton Foundation
A woman cradles a baby while surrounded by four children in a rustic kitchen, with dishes on shelves and blue sky outside—a heartwarming scene that might inspire thoughts like, should I have kids?.
5 min
Kids don’t always make you happier. Here’s why people have them anyway.
John Templeton Foundation
A hand holding a whip with multiple knotted tails against a solid orange background, subtly hinting at themes of discipline and exploring why suffering is good.
6 min
There are two kinds of suffering. One is pure pain. The other makes life worth living.
John Templeton Foundation
4 min
Yale psychologist Paul Bloom has views on empathy, emotion, and rationality that make him a black sheep among his peers.
8 min
Oasis had it right: stop crying your heart out. Psychologist Paul Bloom argues that empathy may be working against our best interests, and that compassion may be a better strategy.
5 min
Empathy moves us, but it may move us to make an unethical decision. Conversely, says Bloom, dehumanization is not the ultimate evil we typically assume it to be.