Dr. Jamil Zaki

So cynical people end up bringing out the most selfish qualities of others, telling a story full of villains, and then ending up stuck living in that story.

So cynical people end up bringing out the most selfish qualities of others, telling a story full of villains, and then ending up stuck living in that story.

That great prefrontal system, maybe. Right.

That great prefrontal system, maybe. Right.

That great prefrontal system, maybe. Right.

That's a great question. Classically defined cynicism would be hard to measure very early in life because you typically measure it through self-report. So people have to have relatively well-developed, elaborated stories that they can tell you about their version of the world.

That's a great question. Classically defined cynicism would be hard to measure very early in life because you typically measure it through self-report. So people have to have relatively well-developed, elaborated stories that they can tell you about their version of the world.

That's a great question. Classically defined cynicism would be hard to measure very early in life because you typically measure it through self-report. So people have to have relatively well-developed, elaborated stories that they can tell you about their version of the world.

That said, one early experience and one early phenotype that's very strongly correlated with generalized mistrust and unwillingness to count on other people would be insecure attachment. early in life. So for instance, you might know, but just for listeners, insecure attachment is a way of describing how kids experience the social world.

That said, one early experience and one early phenotype that's very strongly correlated with generalized mistrust and unwillingness to count on other people would be insecure attachment. early in life. So for instance, you might know, but just for listeners, insecure attachment is a way of describing how kids experience the social world.

That said, one early experience and one early phenotype that's very strongly correlated with generalized mistrust and unwillingness to count on other people would be insecure attachment. early in life. So for instance, you might know, but just for listeners, insecure attachment is a way of describing how kids experience the social world.

It's often tested using something known as the strange situation where a one-year-old is brought to a lab with their caregiver. mother, father, whoever is caring for them. They're in a novel environment and researchers are observing how much do they explore the space? How comfortable do they seem? Then after that, a stranger enters the room

It's often tested using something known as the strange situation where a one-year-old is brought to a lab with their caregiver. mother, father, whoever is caring for them. They're in a novel environment and researchers are observing how much do they explore the space? How comfortable do they seem? Then after that, a stranger enters the room

It's often tested using something known as the strange situation where a one-year-old is brought to a lab with their caregiver. mother, father, whoever is caring for them. They're in a novel environment and researchers are observing how much do they explore the space? How comfortable do they seem? Then after that, a stranger enters the room

A couple of minutes after that, their mother leaves the room or their caregiver leaves the room, which is, of course, incredibly strange and stressful for most one-year-olds. The caregiver then returns after a minute. And what researchers look at is a few things. One, how comfortable is the child exploring a space with their caregiver present?

A couple of minutes after that, their mother leaves the room or their caregiver leaves the room, which is, of course, incredibly strange and stressful for most one-year-olds. The caregiver then returns after a minute. And what researchers look at is a few things. One, how comfortable is the child exploring a space with their caregiver present?

A couple of minutes after that, their mother leaves the room or their caregiver leaves the room, which is, of course, incredibly strange and stressful for most one-year-olds. The caregiver then returns after a minute. And what researchers look at is a few things. One, how comfortable is the child exploring a space with their caregiver present?

Two, how comfortable are they when other people are around? Three, how do they react when their caregiver leaves? And four, how do they react at the reunion with their caregiver? And the majority of kids, approximately two-thirds of them, are securely attached, meaning that they are comfortable exploring a new space.

Two, how comfortable are they when other people are around? Three, how do they react when their caregiver leaves? And four, how do they react at the reunion with their caregiver? And the majority of kids, approximately two-thirds of them, are securely attached, meaning that they are comfortable exploring a new space.

Two, how comfortable are they when other people are around? Three, how do they react when their caregiver leaves? And four, how do they react at the reunion with their caregiver? And the majority of kids, approximately two-thirds of them, are securely attached, meaning that they are comfortable exploring a new space.