What is cynicism

This article was developed under the heading: Psychology.

Section: Character.

Few of us have not encountered manifestations of cynicism in life. But not every person understands what this definition means. Cynics behave defiantly, show aggression, ridicule the ideals of other people, and do not create any illusions or fantasies. Such people neglect and despise the rules that are accepted in society. They do not see the point in these rules and foundations and do not show pity. Compassion, sympathy, and shame are alien to them. According to most people, this character trait is negative. However, such behavior is not always based on a person’s conscious decision. Quite often, cynicism is a manifestation of unconscious reactions to psychological trauma and problems. Let's figure it out together in this article: is cynicism a style of behavior or a reaction to psychological trauma?

Cynicism can be caused by various reasons, and the person himself is not always to blame

Cynicism is, in simple words, a character trait in which a person denies manifestations of higher feelings and motives in the form of love, sympathy, selflessness, and sacrifice. A cynical person is convinced that love is just an illusion, just a chemical reaction and an imposed attitude. Cynical people think that sincere and selfless love is just a fiction. In a way, cynics are extremely pragmatic and are not fooled by manifestations of sentimentality and other emotions.

Cynics show a negative attitude towards various universal human values - love, pity, compassion, mercy, sympathy. Cynics neglect these values and mock them. According to the cynic, the reason for these values lies in commercialism and the desire to assert oneself. Such thinking gives rise to reflection and critical conclusions. A cynic person has difficulty adapting to changes, has a negative attitude towards them, does not rely on feelings and emotions, and is guided only by common sense.

Cynicism from Lat. “cynismus” means a person’s frank, defiant, dismissive and contemptuous attitude towards the moral norms, values and ideas of other people.

Who is a cynical person

Cynicism is a pronounced personality trait. Who are cynics in simple words - these are people who have clearly formed principles of life, they consciously choose their path. According to the cynic, there are no irreplaceable people in the world, no things that need to be treasured. They do not hover in optimistic utopias that everything will be fine if they hold on to emotions and people.

A cynic contacts people around him only if he sees some benefit for himself, without violating his interests or creating discomfort. Cynicism manifests itself in indifference to sublime things, to love. The meaning of the word cynical is that a person does not show sympathy, sympathy, or compassion. Cynics devalue the successes and achievements of other people. For them there are no authorities, sometimes they are intolerant of the opinions of others, they believe that only their opinion is correct.

A person can become cynical both at a conscious age and in childhood. The formation of such a personality is influenced by many factors. A child may show cynicism towards others due to childhood psychological trauma. Therefore, before accusing a person of being cynical, try to find out the reason for such behavior. And in some cases, provide assistance.

A person can become cynical at any age

Examples from life

Examples of value are quite varied. They can extend from family relationships to relationships with animals. Cynicism can be distinguished by its main characteristics: a person’s detachment, indifference, lack of empathy and compassion, as well as irritability towards people’s problems.

The following life situations can be cited as examples of cynicism:

A person knows how to resist manipulation. For example, there is a mother who is used to controlling her son’s life. Doesn't accept any girl, throws tantrums if her son doesn't listen to her. At one point, the guy’s healthy cynicism manifests itself - he brings his future wife to meet his mother, who, out of habit, starts a scandal, but the son simply offers to drink a sedative and does not fall for his mother’s manipulations.

It is important to understand that cynicism is not always a negative character trait. In some cases, cynicism is a way of resisting the manipulations, hysterics, and neuroses of other people. In certain cases, cynicism can be situational and not permanent.

Often cynics simply defend themselves with their behavior. This attitude often manifests itself in people who have been subjected to psychological violence in any of its forms for a long time. For example, a child has been subjected to humiliation and manipulation by relatives and immediate circle throughout his life. As a result, a person stops appreciating other people’s feelings and emotions and becomes a cynic, since his feelings and emotions during adolescence were not important to others.
Cynicism is a professional deformation. In many ways, the manifestation of cynicism is associated with a person’s professional activity. An example of such professions would be a surgeon or an investigator. Investigators and law enforcement officials often have distorted ideas about morality and emotional boundaries. This manifests itself in cynical jokes and attitudes towards issues of life and death.

The reason for cynicism is often professional deformation

What is cynicism like?

Cynics are not perceived in a negative way by society; this character trait is now even becoming fashionable. Young people consider this position to be strong and smart. Cynicism comes in different forms; it can be divided into the following types:

Healthy cynicism. This is not a character flaw. Such a person does not play the lottery, does not follow the lead of boors and arrogant people, and does not allow himself to be deceived or insulted.
Hate romance. Offended and irritated by displays of love, kisses, flowers, love letters and various manifestations of romance. I am convinced that love is very rare in the world and does not tolerate deception.
A follower of black humor. He shocks the people around him with sarcastic remarks and rude jokes.
Pest. He cannot control his disdainful attitude towards people, is indifferent to other people's misfortunes, and often gloats over other people's problems. He likes to mock people and “troll” them.
Materialist. There are no feelings, there is only clear calculation and benefit. Easily breaks up with a person if he sees the futility of the relationship.

About healthy types of cynicism

Svetlana Kovalenko

Psychologist, clinical psychologist

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Cynicism in modern society is a way of resisting external stimuli. Based on the understanding of cynicism in modern psychology, it is used to abstract from constant external factors that cause neurosis, psychosis, and hysteria. If you notice yourself being excessively cynical. You understand that cynicism has long outgrown healthy boundaries. You realize that cynicism has roots in your psychological traumas. If you see that it is difficult for your loved ones to maintain contact with you, contact a psychotherapist or psychologist.

Cynicism from a psychological point of view

In psychology, this character trait has a different meaning. Experts say that this is a type of neurotic behavior. The person is not interested in generally accepted norms of behavior and values. Such a neurotic is accustomed to destroying the usual foundations and rules, mocking standards and values.

Neurotics are a fairly collective category in psychology. The main sign of neurotic people is a constant feeling of anxiety about everything. How do mentally healthy people differ from neurotics? The fact that they also experience nervousness, but based on real emotions that have real reasons. Neurotics, on the other hand, continuously generate the causes of their irritation within themselves.

We do not support the position of attributing cynicism to a neurotic state. On the contrary, cynicism is a way of avoiding irritants, unnecessary neurosis and worries. Since a person refuses to experience emotions in relation to many aspects of life.

Cynicism from a psychological point of view

In psychology, it is believed that cynicism is one of the types of neurotic behavior. A person is not interested in generally accepted norms of behavior and values. He mocks popular beliefs and destroys conventional standards and authorities.

When does cynicism first begin to appear?

Until the age of three, the child does not oppose himself to the world, does not demonstrate his uniqueness. Having crossed this age limit, he radically changes his behavior, acquiring previously unknown traits. The child enters a critical age, showing hysterics, commanding loved ones and being offended for many reasons.

Many parents are shocked by this “reincarnation.” Having realized his own “I,” the baby begins to fall into negativism, which helps him express his individual needs and desires. Defending his identity, he confronts adults, refusing what he previously liked or ignoring their requests. If such behavior manifests itself especially clearly, the assumption gradually appears that the child is susceptible to cynicism. In fact, this is just a stage of growing up that is gradually disappearing. If the parents failed to direct the child’s thoughts and self-expression in the right direction, the personality trait remains, and the growing person continues his self-affirmation.

Signs of cynicism

To know whether there are people with cynical reasoning in your environment, you need to not only know the meaning of this trait. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the main manifestations of this psychological feature:

Specific behavior in society. He is distinguished by rude speech and categorical judgments. For him there is only black and white. Does not accept other people's points of view and opinions, treats everyone with disdain.
Disregards moral values, ethics, and religious canons. He cannot enjoy contemplating masterpieces of art and culture, and does not want to follow generally accepted moral laws.
Mental callousness. Anyone who is a cynic does not know how to sympathize, empathize, show compassion, regret, shows the height of cynicism. Not influenced by negative thoughts.
People are treated with commercialism. In their environment there are only those with whom it is beneficial for them to contact; an ordinary person will not be in their social circle. An alliance with such a person is full of disappointments. He does not show tender feelings for his loved one, is not a romantic, and requires patience with himself. He can change with a calm soul and not suffer from remorse.
He is a skeptic and shows sarcasm. A cynical person is disdainful of other people's values. Makes sarcastic comments about other people's experiences. He does not think that his words can hurt and cause suffering.
For such a person there are no authorities. For him, modern cultural objects, historical figures, fame and recognition do not matter.
Sympathy and compassion are manifested specifically. They are cold and emotionally distant, and most often sympathize only to assert themselves.

Signs of cynicism will help you recognize a cynic person

Definition

Cynicism

call a negative spiritual and moral quality, manifested in rude and sarcastic remarks, an arrogant attitude towards certain people and events.

The beginnings of cynicism can manifest themselves at a young age in the form of negativism.

References to this personality trait come from Ancient Greece - from the philosophical school of Cynicism, founded by the follower of Socrates, Antisthenes. Subsequently, Diogenes of Sinope became a prominent representative of Cynicism. Being carried away by the ideas of Socrates, the Cynics were unable to fully continue his work. Their philosophy was based on the practical morality of Socrates with his inherent self-control, unpretentiousness in clothing and nutrition. Legend has it that Diogenes made do with a minimum of goods and lived in a clay barrel. Behaving provocatively, he was ridiculed more than once, but he did not care. The Cynics formed disdainful views on the moral values and norms of society, ignoring established rules in simple things (religion, manner of dressing, attitude towards shrines, etc.). Their main goal was to get rid of everything conventional and to be natural. According to their ethics, they tried to “unlearn evil,” which in their understanding consisted of a break with customary moral norms.

The Latins began to call the Cynics cynics, and gradually this definition became stable, acquiring a negative meaning. Cynicism was not welcomed: it was stated that “there is no justification for it.” For the first time, this personality trait was examined in detail in the works of such famous thinkers as Peter Sloterdijk, Bertrand Russell, A. Kanke.

Reasons for cynicism

There are certain mechanisms for the development of cynicism, the reasons for which may be:

previously experienced disappointment in life, betrayal of a loved one, pain, loss, other negative experience;
features of parental education - lack of tenderness and affection, excessive severity and rudeness;
the presence of a strong intrapersonal conflict, existential crisis, loss of faith in justice, destruction of ideals and illusions;
loss of support, lack of self-confidence, feeling threatened;
very high self-esteem, pride and manifestations of selfishness;
disregard for generally accepted values in order to express one’s individuality;
signs of a more serious and deep psychological illness.

The main mechanism of development is strong long-term negative experience, excessive self-confidence, thanks to which a person considers himself superior to others. Before becoming a cynic, a person experiences a strong shock, after which his outlook on life changes.

With the help of healthy cynicism, people protect themselves from professional burnout and other negative consequences for the psyche. Moreover, they perform their tasks more professionally, since they turn off feelings and emotions. For example, a judge becomes dispassionate when making a decision; the defendant should not arouse pity or hatred in him.

Types of Cynicism

According to psychologists, there are two types of cynicism:

Domestic. It manifests itself in everyday life through immoral actions, disregard for norms of behavior and other people's feelings, ridicule of people, ignoring other people's interests and desires.
Professional. It often occurs in those individuals whose psyche systematically suffers from serious trials.

There is also another classification of cynicism:

legal - a person does not want to live in accordance with legal norms and laws;
social – disregard for moral standards;
social – present in a separate community;
economic – expresses dissatisfaction with the economic system.

About types of cynicism

Svetlana Kovalenko

Psychologist, clinical psychologist

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In my opinion, it is necessary to distinguish between types of cynicism based on reasons and external expression. In the first case, cynicism is divided into professional, personal and caused by illness. Personality, in turn, can be divided into many types: acquired in childhood, acquired in adulthood, cynicism in relation to certain social models and roles. For example, indifference towards children.

In the second case, cynicism will be divided into permanent and situational. The latter means a person's reaction to certain cases. At the same time, the rest of the person has empathy, experience and awareness of moral norms.

A separate case is cynicism as a sign of some psychological illness. For example, a personality disorder.

Is cynicism always bad?

It is an incorrect assumption that the concept of “cynicism” is always negative. This is not a bad thing in itself, but it limits your ability to really experience life if it is not equally balanced with optimism. People who are cynical do not interact fully with others. But it doesn't have to be that way.

Cynicism is necessary for assessing any situation, but should not be the main personality trait. This is a negative attribute if your cynicism applies to everything in life.
For example, cynics will be the first to discover real conspiracies. They will be the first to identify potential flaws or potential dangers. Don't you find it particularly helpful to question the specific actions you are subjected to by unscrupulous people? The world is replete with such people. In this day and age, when people are willing to steal what you have, it's good to be cynical, but when necessary and used with caution. Being cynical is a useful tool.
Too much openness can lead to problems, too much cynicism can lead to losing friends. You just have to have a balance in it. Therefore, the time has come to return cynicism to the forces of light and truth. Forget the tired old dichotomies of positivity and negativity, optimism and pessimism. You can't make things better unless you see how bad they are. And it is only because you do not trust that you can distinguish between the reliable and the unreliable. To do all this, you need a reasonable cynicism, which is not so much a general negative, but a spotlight for the truly positive.

So, is there any benefit to cynicism? Answer: yes! Temporary and moderate cynicism is desirable, even necessary, to protect oneself from harmful situations.

Sometimes it is necessary.
It is also worth noting the positive qualities of cynicism:

A cynic always tells the truth. Yes, straight to the forehead, but not disingenuous
He looks at the world in real life, not through rose-colored glasses. A cynic doesn't have his head in the clouds
A sound assessment of the situation and one’s strengths helps the cynic move towards his goal
Sometimes a kind soul hides behind the mask of a cynic. But a person, not wanting to be cunning or deceive, so as not to offend, tears out cynicism. Or his empathy is poorly developed.

Important: It is worth understanding that there is forced cynicism. For example, in the profession of a doctor, judge, criminologist. And there is insensitive cynicism, when a person is driven only by profit.

Everyone chooses their side

Brief description of a cynic

Cynical people oppose lofty ideals and feelings; they do not believe in love. They don’t think about shame, they are sure that everything in life can be bought, that there are no things or values that need to be treasured. Such individuals communicate with other people only when it is beneficial for them. He will reject everything sublime and does not believe in true love and friendship.

Sympathy, pity and compassion are not inherent in such people. They can only sympathize if they are trying to be superior. They can laugh at the values that are important to other people. Can communicate rudely, point out mistakes, criticize, make sarcastic remarks. For him there are no authorities, he can aggressively perceive the opinions of others, his own opinion is considered the only correct one. Such a person suffers from anxious thoughts, inner emptiness, complete confusion, and awareness of injustice.

Do not confuse cynicism with a complex personality

Cynicism and cynicism

The modern concept of cynicism was preceded by the ideology of cynicism. What did this suggest? The Cynics opposed themselves to society, rejected social norms and generally accepted values. They emphasized that any human needs, including biological (animal) ones, are natural, correct and allowed. Of course, complete freedom often looked asocial and more like arbitrariness. Cynicism was a counterculture; its representatives called themselves marginal.

Modern cynicism is not so active and pronounced. It is more often limited to thinking, the mental opposition of the individual to society, and not to active actions.

How to quickly recognize a cynic in life

Recognizing a cynic in life can be quite a difficult task. Most people simply have a wayward character and rudeness, which can be confused with a cynic. By what factors can you recognize such a person:

Lack of empathy. In standard human relationships, each person tries to understand the other, to put himself in his place. A cynic will not try to feel compassion for your problems, your feelings and emotions. Moreover, he will not even be able to feign empathy to alleviate your emotional state;
Lack of a system of moral principles and values. In most cases, those general norms of behavior that are inherent to everyone are empty words for a cynic. In conversations on most topics, the lack of moral values will stand out;
Deviant behavior. If, when communicating with a person, you see deviations from the person’s model of healthy behavior, perhaps you are a cynic.
Black humor. If a person is not involved in difficult professions, but you see his unhealthy attitude towards issues of life, death, love, etc., then this may be one of the manifestations of cynicism.

Remember that the main method for recognizing a cynic is communication. Only communication and social interaction can be effective mechanisms for recognizing unhealthy people around you.

Who is a cynical person?

Having understood who a cynic is in simple words, it is worth considering the issue of cynicism of a different kind and looking deeper into the problem. From the point of view of psychologists, a cynic is a person who unconsciously uses one of the defense mechanisms to deal with stress. This trait can develop over time in some professions associated with emotional burnout.

In this case, the cynical person is a victim of the chosen path. Such cynicism is usually called cold, which means a denial of the usual ethical norms. This property helps you work more productively without getting caught up in emotions. For example, anesthesiologists often have this trait, which develops as a side effect of the profession.

But the field of activity is not always associated with the appearance of this character trait. The reason may be severe shocks that lead to the activation of a defense mechanism (cruel upbringing, psychological trauma, severe disappointment). Experienced events give rise to denial of a specific episode and moral values in general.

Some reasons for the appearance of cynicism in character:

Loss of a loved one, loss, betrayal;
Rough or low-emotional upbringing;
Intrapersonal conflict, loss of ideals, destruction of illusions;
Feeling of defenselessness, uncertainty about the future, loneliness;
Egocentrism, high self-esteem, snobbery;
The desire to be an extraordinary person.

Examples of cynicism in life

Cynicism is a fairly common phenomenon, examples of which can be found at any time. First of all, this is demonstrative dominant behavior, ostentatious denial of other people’s ideals, and a negative attitude towards universal human values.

Playwrights and novelists use cynicism in relationships to create their characters. An example of this behavior is the Kid’s well-known friend named Carlson. Throughout the book, he brazenly and cynically uses the boy for his own purposes. His attitude is self-centered and consumerist. But the play partner treats the cynic with trepidation and love. This happens in real life - if one of the two is a cynic in a couple, then all the sacrifices have to be made by the second partner.

Another hardened cynic is Bazarov from the work “Fathers and Sons” by I. Turgenev. The reason for his defect was loneliness and a feeling of being lost. He was a cynic both in words and in thoughts. Moreover, his personality aroused interest among outside observers, but his egocentrism and neglect sometimes looked stupid.

Cynical people are often found in literature. Another well-known and beloved character by many is Ostap Bender from “12 Chairs” by Ilf and Petrov. He did not even hide his exorbitant cynicism and greed. At the same time, the personality of the “great schemer” was very interesting - he had a sharp, resourceful mind, insight, ingenuity and a unique sense of humor. All this endowed the “son of a Turkish subject” with charm and charm, the effect of which quickly faded after his cynical actions.

The beloved Sherlock Holmes is another example of cold cynicism. The devilishly smart and insightful detective did not hide his disdainful behavior towards others. He saw in the crimes committed only a source of entertainment in the form of interesting riddles. Some researchers even consider him a psychopath.

Perhaps the creators of Doctor House from the series of the same name were inspired by this hero. This “hero of our time,” a brilliant doctor, with a remarkable mind saves the lives of hopeless patients by finding the cause of their ailments. But like Holmes, he sees people only as a way to have fun and overcome boredom. He shamelessly uses his friends to obtain drugs, and even the love of a beautiful woman cannot change the hardened cynic Gregory House.

Pros and cons of cynicism

This character trait has positive and negative sides.

The Advantages of Cynics

The main positive aspects of cynicism include:

This feature allows you not to fuss, but to call a spade a spade. Sometimes it's necessary. Such a person will not beat around the bush, but will say everything straight. Also, he will not allow a dishonest and selfish person to take advantage of his trust, without hesitation he will exclude the hypocrite from his social circle.
With its help, a person can soberly assess the situation. Take off your rose-colored glasses and understand what the point is. He will not justify ill-wishers and offenders, and can sensibly evaluate the actions and intentions of strangers.
This is a defense mechanism. A person is confident in his abilities and rarely feels weak. With the help of healthy cynicism, he does not allow others to be rude, intrusive, or tactless towards themselves. He can easily protect himself from external negativity and rudeness.
Helps you make the right decision. A person is freed from unnecessary illusions, weaknesses, emotions and hopes. Begins to soberly assess the situation, acts on the basis of facts, not guesses and assumptions. Such people often achieve good results in the professional field.
People know how to achieve the goals they set for themselves. They are not guided by fears or thoughts of what others think of them.

Cynicism can be positive and healthy

Disadvantages of Cynics

The disadvantages of this character trait include:

such individuals seem callous, rude, evil;
they are lonely because their friends do not like their excessive directness and sarcasm;
may cause pity among others;
they are unemotional, so they are difficult to understand and difficult to communicate with;
such individuals neglect important human values that can help them become happy and satisfied with life.

Negative cynicism is hidden aggression and neurosis

Degrees of cynicism

Let us consider from the perspective of psychology and psychiatry what cynical behavior is at different levels of its development and complexity.

Normal cynicism

It is based on distrust of the surrounding society. Therefore, it is very easy for such a person not to give money to a beggar, not to fall for the new “very favorable tariff” or discounts in his favorite store.

Egocentrism can often hide under this sauce. When a person thinks exclusively for his own benefit in any life situations.

Black humor

As you know, black humor is jokes for intelligent people. And among them there are a lot of cynics. Therefore, they love jokes on topics that are alien to the average member of society.

But it is worth remembering that just because someone jokes about death, this does not mean that he is a psychopath (sociopath) or a murderer. Often such people turn out to be very kind and sensitive individuals.

Cold and sanity

Representatives of this group have an analytical mind. If we talk about their emotional level, it is very meager. Such people are not capable of sympathy or pity.

This kind of people will not console a friend, will not wipe away his tears, but immediately begin to think about how to solve the problem. Cold emotionally and in relationships. This behavior makes it difficult for “cold cynics” to establish reliable social contacts. They are either official in nature or absent altogether.

Teenage maximalism

The definition of this type of cynicism is very similar to teenage maximalism. Such people deny absolutely everything: from politics in the country to bouquets for the Eighth of March.

The sooner they realize that wasting energy on negativity is pointless, the sooner they will see something beautiful around them.

How to live if you are a cynic

You can live with cynicism. If this character trait does not have a negative impact on your psyche, you just need to accept it. If possible, restrain yourself from sarcasm and dark humor, since people really don’t like it.

You need to learn to trust people, understand that not everyone is a hypocrite, not everyone is looking for profit. It is important to adhere to healthy cynicism, it helps in life. If possible, restrain yourself from various discussions and disputes. Your arguments are too painful for people. Psychologists recommend learning to enjoy life. Turn off your mind more often, feel your heart, obey its will.

If you feel that this trait is causing you discomfort, consult a psychologist. He will help you work through the problem and find its causes. Afterwards, it will be easier for you to control cynicism and get along with it.

Types of cynicism - how it happens

Healthy cynicism. This is not a character flaw. Such a person does not play the lottery, does not follow the lead of boors and arrogant people, and does not allow himself to be deceived or insulted.
Hate romance. Offended and irritated by displays of love, kisses, flowers, love letters and various manifestations of romance. I am convinced that love is very rare in the world and does not tolerate deception.
A follower of black humor. He shocks the people around him with sarcastic remarks and rude jokes.
Pest . He cannot control his disdainful attitude towards people, is indifferent to other people's misfortunes, and often gloats over other people's problems. He likes to mock people and “troll” them.
Materialist . There are no feelings, there is only clear calculation and benefit. Easily breaks up with a person if he sees the futility of the relationship.

If you notice yourself being excessively cynical. You understand that cynicism has long outgrown healthy boundaries. You realize that cynicism has roots in your psychological traumas. If you see that it is difficult for your loved ones to maintain contact with you, contact a psychotherapist or psychologist.

How to Deal with a Cynic

It is difficult to communicate with such a person, especially for emotional people. If it is not possible to exclude him from your social circle, it is recommended to follow these tips:

Don't try to convince. A cynic has excessively high self-esteem, he considers himself the smartest and is confident that he is right.
Do not engage in polemics or disputes. Such a person will always find a lot of arguments to prove that he is right.
Do not allow yourself to be drawn into conflict. Even if you see that a person is behaving inappropriately, do not try to quarrel with him or be rude.
Gain trust. This must be done if you value your relationship with him.
Don't try to change it.

When forced to communicate with a cynic, try to smooth out corners and not give an emotional reaction

How to raise a cynic child

There are simple rules for raising such a child:

do not ridicule his behavior and emotions;
do not give in to the desire to conflict;
praise and encourage good actions and behavior;
be emotionally attached, show your love;
Be responsible;
show that your child comes first;
help you express your emotions.

It is important to understand that children's cynicism is easier to correct than an adult's. When communicating with your child, think about whether your behavior is the cause of this character trait in your child.

Cynicism towards women

A cynical man inspires confidence, alluring harshness, masculinity and sexuality. But this is only until he starts a relationship with a woman. She will either have to endure it or leave.

There is a common feature for all cynic men - they prefer to be in open relationships. They don't believe in love and deny romance. They are unapproachable, vulnerable, hiding their true feelings under the guise of coldness and sarcasm. They are afraid to trust and open their hearts.

If you, as a woman, are not satisfied with this attitude from a man. Don't try to re-educate the person. Accept that this is not your person.

How to deal with cynicism

In order to cope with cynicism, you need to focus on developing empathy, compassion, learning to set priorities correctly and accept spiritual values. Cynicism is an acute manifestation of realism and egoism. The idea of cynics is based on satisfying their needs and interests, material and personal desires.

To get rid of cynicism, you need to develop romanticism in yourself and gradually get rid of selfishness. Start doing something selflessly for other people, develop empathy, learn empathy. Remember when you enjoyed life and contemplated something beautiful. Return to this moment and remember your feelings.

The most effective way to combat cynicism is to consult a specialist

How to become a cynic

To become a cynic you need:

focus on your disappointments;
expect a repetition of negative experiences;
question the motives of all people;
openly express your opinions and thoughts;
use black humor;
Don't be afraid to voice your disapproval.

Remember that being a complete cynic will never bring about positive changes in your life. Moreover, it will deprive you of a certain range of emotions, experiences and life experiences.

Origin of the word "cynicism"

The philosophical movement known as Cynicism originated in Ancient Greece in the late 5th century AD. The philosopher Antisthenes (365–445 AD), a famous and avid student of Socrates, is considered the founder of cynicism. Antisthenes adopted and developed Socrates' ideas about the virtuous life, characterized by steadfastness and little room for emotion. Antisthenes took these ideas to the extreme and led an ascetic life, claiming that he “would rather go mad than experience pleasure.” While Socrates used irony and humor, Antisthenes replaced them with seriousness and disapproval. The school of thought developed by Antisthenes and his followers became known as Cynicism, or the cynical philosophical movement. Cynics argued that “the more excess of pleasure a person achieves, the more excess of pleasure he desires in the near future.” They believed that people's incessant preoccupation and never-ending quest to achieve such "pleasures" exposes people to the risk of "being tormented by anxiety and terror", experiencing constant suffering and fear from the thought that they will never be able to achieve their "desired quantity of pleasures" or that they " will lose the pleasures they already possess.”

According to cynics, the cure for human suffering is a return to natural life, abstinence and renunciation of the achievements of civilization and materialistic pleasures, which, in their opinion, can never lead to happiness, peace or contentment. Thus, the philosophical Cynic movement was considered the first revolt against the principles of civilization in the history of Western thought.

The most famous figure of the philosophical movement of Cynicism was Diogenes of Sinope. Diogenes accepted the principles of Antisthenes to the highest degree. His unconventional behavior included living in a barrel at the market.

The most famous cynics

Sigmud Freud

The father of psychoanalysis reduced all high feelings to simple instincts. He believed that people are not the crown of creation. This misanthrope believed that man is only a puppet in the hands of an evil, irrational world will.

He considered the essence of man to be only procreation, without any bright feelings. I didn’t want to be deceived by other ideas.

One of the founders of modern psychoanalysis was a real cynic

Friedrich Nietzsche

Nietzsche was an atheist who believed that all human ideals are buried with God. At heart, he was a romantic who lacked bright ideals and expectations. They died after disappointments in life.

Cynics among philosophers are quite common

Dr. House from the series of the same name

Many doctors are forced to become cynics. This is an important condition for them to do their job professionally. Every surgeon has fatalities in his work. And if they grieved over every patient who could not be saved, they would not be able to be good doctors.

The image of Dr. House is an example of the cynicism of doctors. He doesn't like people and considers illnesses a mystery that he must solve.

The most popular image of a cynic from media culture

Sources of cynicism

Each of us is born without the slightest bit of cynicism. Even in early childhood, a child, for the first time faced with the injustice of this world, hides his mental pain behind external indifference. If he is not helped to overcome such a situation, then in the future he will gradually get used to such a reaction and may become a cynic.

The manifestation of cynicism is characteristic of adolescents during puberty. Against the background of hormonal changes in the body, they try to protect themselves from the outside world, to protect themselves from it. Over time, cynicism as an age-related reaction of adolescents goes away, but for some it remains forever. Already in his youth, a person, having experienced unrequited love, can assure others that true love does not exist, that people do not remain faithful to each other throughout their lives, thus showing cynicism, the origins of which lie in the inability to calmly endure a loss. Cynicism is inherent in people of certain professions, who without its manifestation could not work fruitfully. This includes lawyers, doctors, and various consultants. Example: if doctors worried about every patient, took on his fears and pains, they would quickly become emotionally exhausted and would not be able to perform their functions efficiently to save people’s lives and health. Some people, under the guise of cynicism, hide from remorse, guilt or other negative emotions and strong experiences.

So, the sources of cynicism are:

Parental attitudes that are established in early childhood. If the model of parental behavior is based on cynicism, then in the future it will be adopted by the children;
Systematic violation of human rights, which leads to the formation of confidence in one’s powerless position in society and in the fact that all norms, laws and regulations are exclusively legal in nature;
Unfair attitude - a person fights for his rights, but having failed to achieve justice, very often begins to show signs of cynicism in order to somehow protect himself.

The standard state of a cynic is characterized by internal emptiness, confusion and anxious thoughts. He knows that there is a lot of wrong and injustice in the world, but he does not have the courage to show his leadership abilities and show his best side.