Some days, it’s hard to be optimistic. But cynicism — the idea that people are inherently selfish, greedy and dishonest — is making humanity lonelier and more divided, says psychologist Jamil Zaki. Presenting fascinating research on cooperation, empathy and trust, Zaki makes the scientific case for optimism and shows us how to break out of the cynicism trap.
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Luis Halpern
February 10, 2022 at 4:01 pm
I’m early
Abell Seyfu
February 10, 2022 at 4:04 pm
One is caught up playing the impassioned protagonist in one’s Subjective Narrative of Self🎈
Exhithronous
February 10, 2022 at 4:44 pm
There is no protagonist or antagonist. That’s entirely subjective and a social construct. There is no good. There is no bad. Just how each individual sees it.
capsar
February 10, 2022 at 5:41 pm
@Exhithronous cheap take. Socially constructed doesn’t mean meaningless; truth is a construct, and yet we can use it to build rockets and cure diseases.
Shhuayb
February 10, 2022 at 4:05 pm
@TED, bring back the old intro (the big-bang one)
Arum Waharatri
February 10, 2022 at 4:52 pm
Ah! 😀 Now I know what’s missing 👍
Hellp me rech 31k subs witout any Videoos
February 10, 2022 at 4:11 pm
These videos is the thing we need
雛形㐂紫
February 10, 2022 at 4:19 pm
❤️
TennesseeJed
February 10, 2022 at 4:23 pm
I ain’t cynical or pessimistic, just defeated, willing to proudly be a good sport and move on. The carrot ain’t real.
capsar
February 10, 2022 at 5:39 pm
Just curious, how old are you?
TennesseeJed
February 10, 2022 at 7:25 pm
@capsar 58
Zachary Sielck
February 10, 2022 at 4:28 pm
You walked a tightrope with this speech. Bravo! It would have been better for you to tell people to be considerate of cynicism. I bet most cynicists have been burned badly in their life. Consider what trauma does to your ability to open up. More trauma doesn’t help.
Cierra W
February 10, 2022 at 4:33 pm
I cry listening to the song “Most people are good” because cynicism has consumed my hopeful, optimistic heart.
It feels like a painful affirmation. Listening to it regularly is deeply important to me. It feels like cleansing darkness from my soul.
Being reminded that being the change you want to see in the world CAN generate waves of positive change helps too. Thank you
EDUCATION STORY
February 10, 2022 at 4:34 pm
Very good I wish from God that’s you live long life
Exhithronous
February 10, 2022 at 4:41 pm
It’s not a trap. It’s realistic and how the world should be. If we were always optimistic, we would have a terrible world but filled with dreams. Which is our world, and everyone is soooo happy. This has nothing to do with me and everything to so with my experience with life. This guy states that optimism is good and cynicism is bad. Also, results are incredibly easy to manipulate. Picture this. 0.0001 to 0.0002 is a 100% increase. So how can I trust this? There is no good. There is no bad. You try to ignore that I think. I’m a cynic. But I don’t think the other political view is wrong. That’s just silly. I actually enjoy both sides of the political spectrum. It poisons trust and for good reason. I don’t argue, I converse considering the other person’s point. Empathy helps politics, absolutely, but it doesn’t mean I trust them because that has nothing to do with their opinions and everything to do with their actions. This man is absolutely not cynical.
Kay Realist
February 10, 2022 at 11:45 pm
Great comment. Spoke my mind.
Exhithronous
February 11, 2022 at 7:40 am
@Kay Realist Lol no probs
random guy on the internet
February 11, 2022 at 8:13 am
Found the cynic
Arum Waharatri
February 10, 2022 at 4:51 pm
Jamil means beauty/handsome
Zaki means smart
MasyaAllah, may your parents’ prayer always be with you
dlanska
February 10, 2022 at 5:03 pm
I cynically thought this video would be a waste of time. I was wrong.
Youngsik Hwang
February 10, 2022 at 5:08 pm
완전 좋다
calisthenic Lara
February 10, 2022 at 5:16 pm
Is a good idea listening 🎧 speech like this even if I do not understand everything?
samoht larpak
February 10, 2022 at 5:21 pm
I will push a rock up and down a hill for its just as useful as this tedtalks.
Chazzmatazz
February 10, 2022 at 8:02 pm
Cynic identified.
Mr. Bob Dobalina • 93 years
February 10, 2022 at 6:13 pm
Thanks dude
One love ✌️
Gina B.
February 10, 2022 at 6:23 pm
Our cynicism is their product. YES!!!
Henrike Witte
February 10, 2022 at 7:46 pm
I needed to hear this today 🙌
Voronar
February 10, 2022 at 7:59 pm
It’s a little odd to take optimism as the opposite of cynicism. Then what is the opposite of pessimism? Are cynicism and pessimism the same? Obviously not
Taylor Everard
February 10, 2022 at 9:08 pm
this 12 minutes could have been 3 minutes, but it still would be too dense for people to properly digest.
Harry Pearle
February 10, 2022 at 10:57 pm
How can we be optimistic about Trumpism, threats to democracy, right now?
Phil Cochetti
February 10, 2022 at 11:02 pm
Thank you. I needed this today, and will be sharing it with friends and family with whom I have lately been lamenting how cynical I have become after dealing with city government for 9 months to little avail.
I hope that folks are just a little more patient, forgiving, and gracious with others, especially when there is little that would preclude them from doing so. All things being equal, others chose to act in good faith. And generous are those who even when all things are not equal, they continue to act in good faith with all.
This core belief is not taught in a civics class and is opposite what economists would have you believe about a “rational actor”. And yet, all human religions underscore this core belief that we should uplift our neighbor, lend aid the poor, and care for the sick. It is what led these religions to millennia long success over religions and sects without these core tenets.
A cynic might ask why should I or where does the giving end, especially if you don’t know it will return to you when you are yourself in need. I would ask why not give what you feel able to and trust that others will do so as well. It is comparable to buying a lottery ticket except this one pay outs in improved humanity for all the more who play.
Andres Prieto
February 11, 2022 at 12:49 am
No se nada de ingles pero me gusta ver estas coferencias.
jjutt87
February 11, 2022 at 1:47 am
That was awesome, I really needed to hear that. Very well expressed and I can definitely attest to that quicksand analogy.
Untitled Tarot
February 11, 2022 at 4:40 am
There is a difference between cynicism and realism. But realism isn’t based in negativity, but rather, in neutrality. This was a great talk!
Feroce
February 11, 2022 at 6:21 am
There’s also a difference between cynicism and pessimism. This talk is extremely misleading in that it calls pessimism, cynicism.
Pandaboi
February 11, 2022 at 5:15 am
All the more reason we need to get single-family zoning repealed (yes, those left of my friends get annoyed at how often I bring that up).
RavenStealstheNight
February 11, 2022 at 5:20 am
There are 3 realities… 1:realism, 2:optimism 3:cynicism/pessimism. I like reality.
gsftb
February 11, 2022 at 6:00 am
I get the message, but what are these graphs. They look like hand made and not emerge from actual data
bestape
February 11, 2022 at 6:02 am
This is great but is cynicism the right word? Wasn’t Socrates a cynic? Is pessimist the right word?
Ahmed Adham
February 11, 2022 at 7:30 pm
Min Ji from Dana
วันวิสา ประสิทธิ์เพิ่มพร
February 12, 2022 at 10:02 am
Can anyone tell me what he’s talking about, please tell me, please.
Satori Mystic
February 12, 2022 at 10:43 am
“Knowledge and Love are One … and the Measure is Suffering.”