What is cynicism? This word can be heard very often, both from people and on television. But many do not even understand whether it is good to be a cynic or not, and even more so in what cases it is appropriate to use this term.
In this article we will tell you what cynicism is and in what forms it can manifest itself.
What does cynicism mean and who is a cynic
Cynicism - this is an open contempt for moral norms, ethics and cultural values, as well as an outright rejection of traditional moral norms, laws, customs, etc.
Cynic - this is a person who demonstratively neglects the established rules, which, in his understanding, prevent him from achieving his goal. This leads to the fact that by denying generally accepted postulates and traditions, compassion, pity, shame and other qualities become inherent to the cynic, since they run counter to his personal interests.
Often a person becomes a cynic due to impunity. For example, he allows himself to be disrespectful to people or deliberately violate the order for which he is not responsible. As a result, the individual grows more and more cynicism.
However, most often they become cynics because of strong disappointment in someone or something. As a result, such people resort to such a psychological defense mechanism as an attack in the form of devaluation of everything around.
And here is what the famous British thinker and mathematician Bertrand Russell said: "Cynics are not only unable to believe what they are told, but they are also unable to believe in anything at all."
It is worth noting that cynicism can be considered in the legislation of a number of countries as a sign of a crime. For example, a person may be punished more severely if his hooliganism was accompanied by "exceptional cynicism" - mockery of the sick or the elderly, manifestation of shamelessness, gross obscenity, as well as outrage against traditions, religion, moral or ethical norms.
