Is being cynical smart?

Today, cynicism has come to mean something very different than it did to the ancient Greeks. Self-identified cynics pride themselves on skepticism and their ability to be wary of other people’s motives as a sign of discerning intelligence. Yet a new study of cynicism argues that the cynical genius is a myth.

What is a cynical perspective?

If you describe someone as cynical, you mean they believe that people always act selfishly. his cynical view of the world. If you are cynical about something, you do not believe that it can be successful or that the people involved are honest.

Are geniuses cynics?

In the world of fiction, including Sherlock Holmes, cynics are depicted as having a high degree of intelligence, but recent studies have shown that ‘cynics are not geniuses’.

Why cynical is bad?

It Makes You More Likely To Engage In Risky Behaviors “Many studies have shown the relationship between cynical, hostile mindsets and an increased risk for harmful behaviors such as smoking […] and excessive alcohol consumption. These behaviors not only affect our physical health but mental health as well.”

Can intelligent people be cynical?

Intelligent people could surely be slightly cynical, enough to expect people to be generally bad, but not so much that he or she doesn’t trust anyone at all except him or herself. There’s certainly a boundary somewhere.

Are cynics smarter than skeptics?

Skepticism may give one a more realistic view of the world, revealing the bad in people and the likelihood of disappointment and failure. An idea that cynics might be smarter because of this, however, now seems to me pretty pompous, and I’m rather selfish for indulging in the idea.

Why do some people develop a cynical personality?

It makes you not take things so personally, and with that comes enormous freedom. It doesn’t matter if you consider someone to be your closest friend, watching his or her behavior in certain situations will bring to light this person’s true colors. It’s when this happens that you develop a cynical personality.

What is cynicism and how do you deal with it?

Cynicism is part of a defensive posture we take to protect ourselves. It’s typically triggered when we feel hurt by or angry at something, and instead of dealing with those emotions directly, we allow them to fester and skew our outlook.