Dr. Jamil Zaki

Because if you're going to go ahead and think that people are generally awful, you know you're missing out on a lot. You're missing out on the chance to really commune with the rest of our species. So you better be right. So a cynic can be pretty protective of that worldview. and threatened, honestly, by the presentation of do-gooders around them.

Because if you're going to go ahead and think that people are generally awful, you know you're missing out on a lot. You're missing out on the chance to really commune with the rest of our species. So you better be right. So a cynic can be pretty protective of that worldview. and threatened, honestly, by the presentation of do-gooders around them.

Because if you're going to go ahead and think that people are generally awful, you know you're missing out on a lot. You're missing out on the chance to really commune with the rest of our species. So you better be right. So a cynic can be pretty protective of that worldview. and threatened, honestly, by the presentation of do-gooders around them.

This is one of the most poignant and saddest studies that I've read. So here people were brought into the lab and asked to give a spontaneous speech about a topic that they didn't know very well, which would freak almost anybody out, right? And it did. And it raised people's blood pressure by about 20%. And so half of these folks had somebody in the room with them who is a sort of cheerleader.

This is one of the most poignant and saddest studies that I've read. So here people were brought into the lab and asked to give a spontaneous speech about a topic that they didn't know very well, which would freak almost anybody out, right? And it did. And it raised people's blood pressure by about 20%. And so half of these folks had somebody in the room with them who is a sort of cheerleader.

This is one of the most poignant and saddest studies that I've read. So here people were brought into the lab and asked to give a spontaneous speech about a topic that they didn't know very well, which would freak almost anybody out, right? And it did. And it raised people's blood pressure by about 20%. And so half of these folks had somebody in the room with them who is a sort of cheerleader.

I mean, not literally, but who is saying, hey, you've got this. I know you can do it. Just a friendly and supportive stranger. And for most people, having that friendly person around. lowered their blood pressure significantly. So that's called stress buffering, right? I guess the saying is trouble shared is trouble halved, right?

I mean, not literally, but who is saying, hey, you've got this. I know you can do it. Just a friendly and supportive stranger. And for most people, having that friendly person around. lowered their blood pressure significantly. So that's called stress buffering, right? I guess the saying is trouble shared is trouble halved, right?

I mean, not literally, but who is saying, hey, you've got this. I know you can do it. Just a friendly and supportive stranger. And for most people, having that friendly person around. lowered their blood pressure significantly. So that's called stress buffering, right? I guess the saying is trouble shared is trouble halved, right?

That if you can be with somebody during a difficult time, it's just not as difficult unless you are cynical. So it turned out that cynics, again, when they had somebody supportive there, their blood pressure was just as high as when they were alone. So it's almost like if you are cynical and can't open up to people, you are alone even when you're with somebody else.

That if you can be with somebody during a difficult time, it's just not as difficult unless you are cynical. So it turned out that cynics, again, when they had somebody supportive there, their blood pressure was just as high as when they were alone. So it's almost like if you are cynical and can't open up to people, you are alone even when you're with somebody else.

That if you can be with somebody during a difficult time, it's just not as difficult unless you are cynical. So it turned out that cynics, again, when they had somebody supportive there, their blood pressure was just as high as when they were alone. So it's almost like if you are cynical and can't open up to people, you are alone even when you're with somebody else.

I believe I believe as well. Yeah. So I think that it's a really powerful question. And, you know, in our culture, I think that because we've glamorized cynicism, there are some folks who maybe adopt it in order to seem smart. Right. So research finds that if you tell people, hey, I want you to look as competent as possible. they actually start to act more cynically.

I believe I believe as well. Yeah. So I think that it's a really powerful question. And, you know, in our culture, I think that because we've glamorized cynicism, there are some folks who maybe adopt it in order to seem smart. Right. So research finds that if you tell people, hey, I want you to look as competent as possible. they actually start to act more cynically.

I believe I believe as well. Yeah. So I think that it's a really powerful question. And, you know, in our culture, I think that because we've glamorized cynicism, there are some folks who maybe adopt it in order to seem smart. Right. So research finds that if you tell people, hey, I want you to look as competent as possible. they actually start to act more cynically.

So they'll remove positive language from their emails. They'll write book reviews that are more negative because they think that being positive just doesn't seem quite as bright. But I would say... that actually the primary siren call of cynicism is not trying to look smart and rather trying to be safe in a world that doesn't feel safe.

So they'll remove positive language from their emails. They'll write book reviews that are more negative because they think that being positive just doesn't seem quite as bright. But I would say... that actually the primary siren call of cynicism is not trying to look smart and rather trying to be safe in a world that doesn't feel safe.

So they'll remove positive language from their emails. They'll write book reviews that are more negative because they think that being positive just doesn't seem quite as bright. But I would say... that actually the primary siren call of cynicism is not trying to look smart and rather trying to be safe in a world that doesn't feel safe.

One big predictor of cynicism is what we could call insecure attachment, right? If early in your life, you just didn't feel safe in the context of your home and family, it's much more likely that you put up those walls. And again, I say this with zero judgment and just in the context interest of transparency and disclosure. That's my experience, right?

One big predictor of cynicism is what we could call insecure attachment, right? If early in your life, you just didn't feel safe in the context of your home and family, it's much more likely that you put up those walls. And again, I say this with zero judgment and just in the context interest of transparency and disclosure. That's my experience, right?