Have you ever heard of cynicism? Do you know that in ancient times cynicism was a very important philosophical trend? Do you know cynical people? Today we try to tell you what cynicism is, answering all the previous questions and going back to its origins.
Cynicism is a term that refers to a way of seeing the world around us, especially referring to the society in which the individual is immersed. And since we are part of that society, it is important to know what is understood as a cynical person, what are their characteristics, and, if we have to treat them, how to deal with them. Therefore, in this Psychology-Online article you will find the definition, characteristics and how to deal with cynical people.
Index
- Definition of cynical people
- Characteristics of cynical people
- How to deal with cynical people
Definition of cynical people.
To know the characteristics of cynical people, it is first necessary to know what the term refers to cynicism.
What is cynicism?
The term cynicism was coined as a result of a philosophical trend that emerged in the fourth century BC. C.. These philosophers defended that the relationship with nature was fundamental, hence the terms cynical and cynical come from the Greek root kyon, which translates as dog or dog. Thinkers as important as Aristotle, the founder of the school, like Diogenes, followed this trend.
However, the current term cynical, used colloquially, does not refer to that philosophical current, since little remains of his main ideas in that term. Conversely, refers to a person who distrusts the actions of others, questioning their motives and reasons, always thinking that they are not disinterested and that they pursue an end, usually selfish.
According to the definition of the RAE, being cynical implies act false and shameless cheeky. For this reason, currently, saying that someone is cynical usually implies a negative denotation towards that person, not being a compliment or an overly objective term. In addition, it implies a distrust of the cynic towards others, generating a feeling of frustration towards human goodness.
Characteristics of cynical people.
Perhaps, as the main trait of cynical people, a high level of distrust towards others. This mistrust is what makes them feel that other people are being dishonest, fearing also because of the intentions that others may have, so it is not uncommon for them to always be at the defensive.
The funny thing is that too many people who distrust others are the first to be little honest, resorting to fallacies and lies for practically everything. It is very typical of cynics to lie when arguing or talking to someone, all for be right, in addition to belittling other people's arguments in some way.
In addition, its marking stands out egocentric trait, considering their ideas above, believing they have more skills and knowledge and underestimating those of others. This usually implies that they always do everything for and for their benefit, being ungenerous or cooperative. In the following article you will find the characteristics and how to treat self-centered people.
They also usually have a pessimistic view of society, believing that there is no remedy for the bad intentions they see in everyone and how harmful they all are to them.
It should be noted that all these characteristics are generalities, that they are given different degrees and that some cynical people may only present some of them, not all at the same time. That is why each particular case is a separate world that has to be considered separately.
How to deal with cynical people.
Given the characteristics of a cynical person, it is not usually very easy to deal with them. It is very common that when doing so they feel that you have to try to convince them of the truthfulness of what you say and the good faith of your actions at all times. This is really tiring, requiring a lot of patience and a good hand to deal with them without despair.
Some general tips in the I deal with cynical people They are:
- Avoid open discussions and debates: in these cases is when a cynical person becomes more defensive, since everything that does not coincide with his own vision of him will be seen by them as a direct attack on his own person. In this way, criticism and possible provocations must be ignored, being prudent and keeping calm. To do this, you can learn assertiveness. Here you will find techniques to develop the capacity for assertiveness.
- Promote optimism, avoiding pessimism: these people are usually pessimistic people, leading them to have a constantly agitated and negative state of mind. It is important not to get drawn into negativity, avoiding feeling sorry for yourself and trying to bring a positive point to the situation. Here you can see strategies to have a positive attitude.
- Try to understand why this cynicism: Cynicism is not usually something that appears out of nowhere, it is usually linked to bad experiences or past trauma. These are the ones that generate this deep distrust and disenchantment towards society. However, like all past traumas, they can be treated, being cynicism something that can disappear if the appropriate measures are taken, resorting to professional help for it. Seeing that a person behaves in a specific way due to the experiences they have lived, helps the understanding of the behavior and compassion of him towards his staff
This article is merely informative, in Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
If you want to read more articles similar to Cynical people: definition, characteristics and how to deal with them, we recommend that you enter our category of Social psychology.
Bibliography
- Guastello, Stephen & Rieke, Mark & Guastello, Denise & Billings, Steven. (2012). TO
- Study of Cynicism, Personality, and Work Values. The Journal of Psychology: Interdisciplinary and Applied. 126. 37-48. 10.1080/00223980.1992.10543339.
- Livni, E. (2018). Cynicism isn't as smart as we think it is. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://qz.com/1329802/cynicism-isnt-as-smart-as-we-think-it-is/
- RAE - ASALE. (2019, November 25). cynical, cynical | Spanish dictionary.
