"If you were under the impression that the opposite of a cynic is an easily hoodwinked person of low mental horsepower, then Jamil Zaki, a professor of psychology and director of Stanford's Social Neuroscience Lab, has news for you. The idea that cynics are somehow more astute is the first of many notions demolished in this succinct, uplifting book. Cynics perform less well in cognitive tests and have a harder time spotting liars than non-cynics."
"Cynicism is bad for us on several levels. Cynics are sicker, more depressed, drink more and die younger than their less cynical counterparts. On a societal level, study after study finds that cynical beliefs eat away at relationships, communities, economies, and society itself. Conversely, people who live in high-trust communities are longer-lived, healthier and happier benefits Zaki translates into the equivalent of a 40% pay rise."
Cynics perform worse on cognitive tests and struggle to detect liars, and they are wrong more often than optimists. Cynicism operates like an autoimmune reaction: a defensive stance that ultimately inflicts self-harm. Cynics have higher rates of illness, depression, alcohol use, and premature death. Widespread cynical beliefs undermine relationships, community cohesion, economic functioning, and broader social trust. High-trust communities experience longer lifespans, better health, and greater happiness, with benefits comparable to a substantial pay increase. Societal trust has declined markedly over recent decades, with a significant fall in Americans’ reported trust in others.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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