139 — How to Be Less Cynical and More Positive About the World with Dr. Jamil Zaki

Mentally Stronger with Therapist Amy Morin

Do you feel cynical these days? Research shows our negative feelings about one another are on the rise. However, studies also indicate that people are actually more trustworthy, honest, and less greedy than they used to be.

Dr. Jamil Zaki says that if you're feeling cynical, there are strategies that can help you develop a more positive outlook on others. He's a psychologist and professor of Psychology at Stanford University, an expert in social connections, kindness, and human behavior, and the author of a new book called Hope for Cynics.

Some of the things we discuss are:

• Why cynicism has been on the rise since the 1970s
• The negative impact cynicism has on our well-being and on society
• How Dr. Zaki managed his cynicism during the pandemic
• What it means to be cynical and why it happens
• What the research says about cynicism
• Strategies for developing a more positive view of others (even if you are skeptical)

Links & Resources

Hope for Cynics

jamil-zaki.com

X — @Zakijam

Dr. Zaki's TED talk — Escape the Cynicism Trap

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