What is cynicism, in simple words about cynics, psychology

What constitutes cynicism is, in simple words, a quality of a person, one might even say a character trait. Cynicism is often perceived as a negative manifestation. But cynics may be disliked and considered bad people. But in fact, cynicism may simply be a defensive reaction of a kind and good person who has suffered serious psychological trauma.

Usually, cynics are not born, but become after they receive a lot of pain from other people and life circumstances. But let’s consider in more detail and from a psychological point of view what cynicism is and who cynics are, and how to learn to quickly recognize them.

In simple words about what cynicism is

Cynicism is, in simple words, a character trait in which a person denies the 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.

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.

Someone will be horrified and ask: “Does the word “cynicism” suggest “pessimism” as a pair? No not always. A pessimist is someone whose hopes for the world were not fulfilled, but they were there. The cynic came closest to the man of the absurd, Camus. He never had these hopes. Because, as the French thinker wrote: “Reason is sterile, but there is nothing higher than reason.”

But there are not only negative sides to cynicism. And not all cynics are bad people.

Types of Cynics

Taking a deeper look at this issue, experts classified them according to several criteria. When determining the types, the attitude to life and character were taken into account. The degree of cynicism was taken into account, or the degree of contempt for the surrounding reality in a person’s mind. As a result, the research identified 5 types of cynics:

master of black humor;
anti-romantic;
materialist;
the villain;
healthy cynic.

Master of black humor

The name of the type speaks for itself. This person loves to joke, or rather sarcastically make fun of everything that catches his eye. A cynic of this type, possessing a sharp mind, laughs at the slightest imperfection in the surrounding reality. It could be a person, a situation or a phenomenon of life and society. However, their actions often contradict their statements. This shows a good heart and a willingness to help others.

Antiromantic

The mindset of this type of cynic is rather maximalist. His cynicism in relationships manifests itself in the denial of all sorts of romantic little things in the form of heart cards for Valentine's Day or a banal bouquet of flowers on a date. He is against sweet kisses and keeping wedding anniversaries in memory. However, all this does not mean that an anti-romantic is not capable of strong feelings. He can love with all his heart, and his cynicism is a “protection” from stereotypes.

Materialist

Cold calculation rules everything here. Emotions and sensory experiences fade into secondary positions if they interfere with a clear plan of action. The computer in the head evaluates the surrounding living space simply: whether or not what is happening corresponds to the developed action plan. This straightforwardness is appropriate in business relationships, but can turn into tactlessness and shamelessness in personal ones.

the villain

This type can be considered the final stage of cynicism. A character trait turns into a life credo. Innermost feelings are trampled underfoot with particular cynicism. This is already a pleasure. This type acquires accompanying shortcomings and vices of the soul. This person is very difficult to get along with. The danger of communicating with such a cynic is the possibility of having a nervous breakdown. This brings him additional joy. The tragedy of such people is loneliness and an unhappy fate.

Healthy cynic

Directly opposite to the one described above, the initial stage. Healthy cynicism can serve as a defense mechanism against excessive emotional outbursts caused by mental anguish. It is impossible to help all those who suffer, everything is God’s will - these are the attitudes of consciousness inherent in this type. Compassion is concentrated on a narrow circle of close people. This suggests that kindness is inherent in a person.

Pros and cons of cynicism

Cynicism has not only disadvantages, but also advantages:

Cynicism allows you not to fuss, but to call things by their proper names . In some situations this is necessary. A cynic does not beat around the bush, does not allow selfish and dishonest people to take advantage of him, and without a shadow of a doubt gets rid of their company.
Cynicism helps to look at the situation sensibly . Having thrown away the rose-colored glasses, a person immediately understands what the truth is. He does not justify offenders and ill-wishers, soberly assessing other people's intentions and actions.
Cynicism can protect . Cynics are confident in themselves and rarely fall into the position of the weak. Healthy cynicism does not allow you to “swallow” the rudeness, tactlessness and intrusiveness of others. Cynics easily fend off blows, protecting themselves from the influence of unworthy individuals.
Cynicism can help you make the right decision . Having discarded unnecessary illusions, weaknesses, hopes and emotions, a person soberly assesses the current situation and acts based on real facts, and not guesses, dreams and assumptions. Cynics often achieve the highest results in business and quickly climb the career ladder.
A person prone to healthy cynicism knows how to achieve his goals . On the path to great achievements, fears and thoughts about public opinion often interfere, but cynics are deprived of this.

Disadvantages of cynicism:

Cynics seem to others to be callous and evil people , which can interfere in some areas of life.
Cynics often have no friends due to their penchant for direct or covert insults.
Some cynics evoke pity , and this is clearly not the effect they would like to achieve.
Cynics are prone to isolation and a narrow range of emotions , which gradually limits their social circle.
Cynicism denies important human values that help in achieving happiness and satisfaction in life.

Psychologists believe that people who develop “healthy” cynicism have a stronger and more stable psyche, are less susceptible to stress and are not inclined to fall into the role of a victim. To some extent, a share of cynicism is useful for a stable and resilient psyche.

COMMON cynicism is sobriety of mind and reasoning. Cynics are better than others at recognizing who really treats you well and who is just snotting under the sun.

I wonder when men become callous cynics?

I wonder when men become callous cynics? No, really, what makes them become like this? Harsh reality, the race for money and success? Race for women? Male idiocy and schizophrenia, which invariably comes with a beer belly?

My son just gave me (and my husband) a gift for our 13th wedding anniversary - he painted our photo, like dad is a king in a crown and cloak, mom is a princess with blond hair. In principle, everything is correct)))

I was touched to the depths of my soul, my boy is a very touching and attentive person, he will always notice my mood, my new outfit, shoes, makeup, hair color. She often compliments me and considers my sister to be a beauty. In general, the guy is just every girl’s dream. I wonder if he will stay like this? I would really like this, really, I would really like some girl to be happy with the attention of her boyfriend, and I would be proud that this guy is my son.

And attention - his father... this is an impenetrable example of cynicism and callousness, and rudeness, and rudeness... Recently I went to the hairdresser's salon, I was gone for 2 hours, I come, we have lunch, he looks at me!!! and attention, asks - where have you been? Is it normal? A neighbor from the 13th floor noticed my different hair color, and he... Sometimes it seems to me that I am the heroine of some stupid joke...

To my question - how will we celebrate our 13th wedding anniversary, I was rudely answered - that you don’t have enough problems in life? ha-ha - I mean, celebrating the holiday is a headache for him, then he added: you (that is, me) just have fun. An interesting movie, apparently he thinks that I’m having fun, I’m on maternity leave with my second child, apparently I’m having a lot of fun doing laps around the neighborhood every day with a stroller. Straight from the song - circling around the area (((

I tried to send him a written message to Odnoklassniki with a brief description of the essence of the 13th anniversary of marriage, there was some kind of romantic heresy, that is, 13 is a lace wedding and it is customary for husbands to give ATTENTION!!! lace underwear to their wife!

Today I put the baby to bed, happy, that means I sit down with my husband, all cheerful, he is sitting playing chess online, pretending that you would go... I’m so playful - let’s chat, and what do I hear: with whom? Shall we chat with you? what should I talk to you about? about panties?

I was already taken aback, because my brain did not immediately guess what kind of panties we were talking about... it turns out we were talking about panties and lace underwear for the 13th birthday. All this is a curtain, I refuse to believe in miracles and love, my family life in the period of my 13th anniversary passes under the sign of lace panties, just as I foolishly wanted (

Tomorrow we need to go and buy SCARLET VULT LACE PANTIES in a sex shop so that the BITCH will damage his psyche for a long time! No, why the hell are they for me, I’d better order some beautiful cotton panties from Victoria’s Secret with a meaningful inscription Special for Husband, like these, it’s a pity, he still won’t get the hint...

How cynics behave - 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.
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.

Not all cynics are the same, so do not rush to label a person “bad, evil” if you notice such traits in him. Under the mask of cynicism, the traits of a good-natured and vulnerable person may be hidden. It’s just that, knowing his weaknesses and how people can ruthlessly attack them, he is forced to put on the armor of cynicism. In simple words - always give a person a chance to show their best qualities.

Reasons for cynicism

Experts consider the following to be the main motives that shape cynical behavior:

Unhappy love
. Denial of sublime feelings and relationships arises due to unrequited feelings in adolescence. What this cynicism is, rejected lovers of mature age can also experience until they meet new love.
Children's vulnerability to injustice
. When a child considers himself undeservedly offended, he hides his emotional pain behind external indifference and callousness.
Hormonal imbalance in adolescence
. It can aggravate the neuropsychic background of the child’s personality. Cynicism here manifests itself as isolation from the outside world.
The habit of behaving like a social outcast
. Behavior changes with age, but for some it can develop into a character for the rest of their lives.
Professional activities
. Working conditions in some specialties contribute to the formation of a cynical attitude. If in the workplace there are nervous overloads when interacting with other people, then cynicism may arise. Brutal frankness is characteristic of this behavior.
Unstable psychotype
. A person with a weak psyche can turn into a cynic if he is unable to cope with the frequent occurrence of feelings of guilt and other negative experiences.

Types of cynicism - how it happens

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.

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.

Signs of a cynical person

If we look at the characteristic features in detail, it will be easier to understand what cynicism is. They may manifest themselves in the following symptoms:

A cynic does not tend to experience certain emotions: feelings of shame, remorse or regret for what he has done. He feels no remorse.
The priority of relationships with other people is personal gain.
What is dear to others is absolutely not valued. On the contrary, it is often ridiculed in a sarcastic manner.
In behavior one can trace a disdainful attitude towards things and phenomena that have valuable qualities of a spiritual nature. There is an attitude that everything can be bought.
Cynics have a characteristic manner of behavior. It is characterized by a rude form, a dismissive attitude and categorical judgments.
They tend to overthrow authorities. For such people, the manifestation of authority is themselves.
Character qualities such as compassion or empathy are used by them only to assert their own superiority.

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 - what is it?

Any society has its own generally accepted norms of behavior, a gradation scale of “good and bad,” and aesthetic taste. However, there are a certain number of people who are dismissive of these attitudes, which leads to altered behavior. What cynicism means can be understood if we imagine a person who is well versed in moral issues, but deliberately violates norms of behavior.

He knows that doing, saying or thinking this way is bad, but he does it anyway. A cynic is even proud of his position of rejecting generally accepted norms. This is how he expresses himself. In another case, moral attitudes interfere with the achievement of one’s own egoistic goals. “Winners are not judged” is the motto of such people. In their minds there is a psychological attitude towards simplifying the state of affairs and their behavior. The answer to the question of what cynicism is may be the presence in a person of a desire to level out “high relationships,” to belittle or ridicule them.

What is healthy cynicism?

Every rule has its exceptions. Healthy cynicism is a critical attitude towards the norms of society, which does not go to extreme stages. In this case, moral attitudes are assessed from the perspective of personal life experience. If they correspond to what has been lived, the person accepts them. Otherwise, he rejects it, but does not boast about it. Benefits of healthy cynicism:

With its help, correct definitions of things and phenomena are given. It helps to place accents.
Self-esteem increases. As a result, healthy cynicism is capable of moral protection under psychological pressure on an individual.
A healthy cynic sees the real situation better. A critical attitude to current circumstances removes the “rose-colored glasses” from the eyes.
The right decisions are made easier. In this case, nervous emotions, opinions of interested parties and prejudices of society are cut off.
Ultimately, healthy cynicism is an aid in achieving goals. A person who looks at things realistically will achieve his goals faster.

Signs of cynicism in people

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 that you familiarize yourself with the main manifestations of this psychological trait and how to recognize a cynic:

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.

But do not forget that cynicism can only be a protective mask. That is, a person only externally creates the impression of such an insensitive and immoral type.

Cynicism is necessary in some professions. For example, cynicism protects a doctor from emotional burnout and nervous breakdowns, and allows him to do his job efficiently. Rescuers, firefighters, psychologists, sappers, police officers must work with cold calculation, controlling any feelings and emotions.

Why are doctors, judges, and police officers not allowed to handle the affairs of their loved ones? The risk is too high. Too many emotions and subjective attitude. We need someone else who can approach the issue rationally, cynically and objectively.

The Origin of Cynicism

Antisthenes, a student of Socrates, founded his own school. Its representatives called themselves “cynics.” They overthrew the centuries-old foundations of social order. The adherents did not accept the morals and ethics of society, the religious worldview and the educational system. Antisthenes preached the arbitrary behavior of citizens and the satisfaction of natural needs in full.

From Greece the teaching penetrated to Rome. In Latin, the adherents of the Cynics were called Cynismus. This word was later taken into circulation by a number of European languages. In the 19th century the word lost its philosophical meaning and acquired a new meaning. It has come to mean ignoring existing norms and deliberately violating them. The Russian term “cynic” comes from the German Zyniker.

Why a person becomes a cynic - reasons

As was already written above, cynics are made, not born. There are certain mechanisms for the development of cynicism in a person, 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.

How to stop being a cynic?

The world is what it is. The attitude towards it (positive or negative) is formed by the person himself. It is up to the individual to deny everything or not be a cynic. Psychologists give advice on how to avoid becoming cynical:

Learn to perceive the positive moments of life.
Develop the ability to see the positive even in negative things.
Form a system of behavioral principles based on a positive perception of reality.
Seek protection not in nihilism, but in faith in yourself, in Higher powers, in God.
Master psychological practices that help open the world and self-realization of spiritual potential.

Two types of cynicism

According to psychologists, there are two main types of cynicism:

Household . 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 challenges associated with the work sphere.

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.

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.

Brief characteristics of a cynic in psychology

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 sometimes suffers from anxious thoughts, inner emptiness, complete confusion, and awareness of injustice.

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.

Cynicism as a way of life: why is it beneficial?

Cynicism forms a pattern of behavior for a reason. If a person chooses to become a cynic, it means he sees certain advantages . And they really are:

The cynic does not fall for the hook of manipulators who achieve their goals by exploiting other people's feelings of guilt;
It's easy for a cynic to say no;
A cynic does not waste himself communicating with people who are not pleasant to him;
A cynic has a high resistance to stress and is able to soberly assess the situation.

However, with all these bonuses, the cynic continues to walk a fine line, since the line between healthy and unhealthy cynicism is very thin . Excessive callousness repels not only manipulators from the cynic, but also people with whom they could find happiness.

What to do if you discover a cynic in yourself

You can live with cynicism. There is no need to try to suppress it in yourself if it helps you. If this character trait does not have a negative impact on your psyche, you just need to accept it, do not deny it in yourself and do not reproach yourself for it.

If possible, try to 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 more inconvenience than benefit, 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.

How to communicate with a cynic without harming yourself

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. A cynic can turn out to be a good and loyal friend if he begins to trust you.
Don't try to change it.
Understand that a cynic often does not intend to hurt you with words, it’s just his way of communicating.

When a cynic devalues the successes of others, this translates to “I really wanted to be someone, but I didn’t succeed. It hurts and envys me to look at others’ achievements because it reminds me of my failure.”

There is no need to despise and fear cynical people, every cynic simply says what people around them think, this is good from any point of view, it is not always appropriate, but when the word hits the mark and a person agrees with the cynic, it almost always has favorable consequences, i.e. .To. he tries to correct the shortcomings.

How to raise a child so that he does not grow up to be a cynic

Typically, the traits of cynicism begin to develop in a person in childhood. There are simple rules for raising a child so that he does not grow up to be a cynic:

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 express your emotions;
provide him with unconditional support.

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.

Cynics are people who have their feet on the ground, and do not have their head in the clouds, having read fairy tales and watched enough slobbering films. Cynics are simply realists. They look at the world with their own eyes, perceive it as it is, and not through rose-colored glasses. The healthiest people in the world.

Cynicism on the part of men 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.

How to become a cynic

It sounds strange, but for some people it is useful to gain a dose of cynicism in order to get out of the role of the eternal victim and throw off everyone who has climbed up and dangled their legs from their shoulders. Usually these are very soft, sensitive, weak-willed people who are easily manipulated by others, naive and too trusting.

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;
constantly making cutting remarks to others;
openly ridicule all the vices of society;
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. But “healthy,” controlled cynicism can be useful.

The most famous cynics in history

There are quite a few famous people in history who were notorious cynics, but let’s focus on the brightest and most talented personalities.

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.

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.

The most famous cynics

Sigmud Freud

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