What is a cynical society?

The Cynical Society is a study of the political despair and abdication of (individual) responsibility Goldfarb calls cynicism—a central but unexamined aspect of contemporary American political and social life.

What makes someone cynical?

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.

Are you a cynical person?

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

What does it mean to be too cynical?

Cynicism Today Today, cynicism refers to doubt or disbelief in the professed motives, sincerity, and goodness of others, and, by extension, in social and ethical norms and values. This attitude is often accompanied by mistrust, scorn, and pessimism about others and humanity as a whole.

Who is a cynic in our contemporary world?

Modern cynicism is a distrust toward professed ethical and social values, especially when there are high expectations concerning society, institutions, and authorities that are unfulfilled.

How do you use cynical in a sentence?

Cynical sentence example

1. He was cynical about politicians’ promises on taxes.
2. On the whole, his moral attitude is cynical , and he is inclined to regard self-interest as the best criterion.
3. I’m cynical enough to believe this is deliberate.
4. You don’t have a cynical bone in your body.
5. They were cynical about politics.

How do I know if I’m a cynical person?

Your main speaking/texting tone is sarcastic. If every time you answer a question with sarcasm rather than patience or sincerity, then cynicism is your new best friend. Super cynical people have trouble taking anything seriously, and sarcasm is the native language of cynicism.

What is the nature of cynicism?

The nature of the cynicism reveals itself in its temperature or flavor: scornful and gratuitous cynicism is more likely to be an ego defense, whereas calm and happy cynicism, however actually cynical, is more likely to be a form of efficiency—not to mention comedy. Cynicism can also be understood in terms of projection.

Is cynicism easy to slip into or hard to shake off?

Like an ill-fitting sweater, cynicism can be easy to slip into, yet difficult to shake off. But what are the risks of indulging in cynical attitudes?

Why do I get cynical about events?

Events that leave us feeling vulnerable, hurt or angry will often trigger these old, defended, often cynical, reactions. As adults, it is our responsibility to separate these attitudes from our own and to differentiate from destructive early influences, so we don’t hurt those closest to us.