Won the International Society for Infant Studies Young Investigator award
Became one of the recipients of the Robert L․ Fantz prize
Has been awarded the Sloan Fellowship in neuroscience
Was elected to fellow status in the American Psychological Association
Earned his PhD from University of Cambridge in 1991 after earning masters degrees at the University of Dundee
Known for his ideas that religion and superstition stem from the innate irrationality of human beings
An experimental psychologist specializing in developmental cognitive neuroscience, his research interests include the cognitive processes behind adult magical thinking
Became a Professor of Developmental Psychology in Society at the University of Bristol, as well as the director of the Bristol Cognitive Development Centre there
Delivered the Royal Institution Christmas Lectures in 2011
Helped expose the ADE 651 bogus bomb detector fraud in 2010 by explaining the ideomotor phenomenon that was being used to fool users