Toward a social psychology of cynicism

Eric Neumann; Jamil Zaki

doi:10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.009

Toward a social psychology of cynicism

Trends Cogn Sci. 2023 Jan;27(1):1-3. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.009. Epub 2022 Sep 30.

Authors

Eric Neumann¹, Jamil Zaki²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305-2130, USA. Electronic address: ericnm@stanford.edu.
² Department of Psychology, Stanford University, 450 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305-2130, USA.

PMID: 36184348
DOI: 10.1016/j.tics.2022.09.009

Abstract

Cynicism is the attitude that people are primarily motivated by self-interest. It tracks numerous negative outcomes, and yet many people are cynical. To understand this 'cynicism paradox', we review and call for more social psychological work on how cynicism spreads, with implications for how we might slow it down.

Keywords: cynicism; false meta-perceptions; pluralistic ignorance; self-fulfilling prophecy; social cognition; trust.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Attitude*
Humans
Psychology, Social*