Review of “Hope for Cynics” by Jamil Zaki: Overcoming the Trust Recession

If you were under the impression that the opposite of a cynic is an easily hoodwinked person, then Jamil Zaki, a professor of psychology and director of Stanford’s Social Neuroscience Lab, has news for you. The idea that cynics are more astute is the first of many notions demolished in his succinct and uplifting book.

Cynics perform less well in cognitive tests and “have a harder time spotting liars than non-cynics.” They are wrong more often than optimists, which takes a toll on their wellbeing and society. Zaki makes a distinction between the “big-c” Cynics of ancient philosophy and the cynical attitude seen today, which is essentially a lack of faith in humanity.

Zaki has studied “human goodness” for the past 20 years, exploring how connection, empathy, and kindness operate in the world. His findings suggest that most people are fundamentally decent, valuing “compassion over selfishness.” Donating money activates the brain’s reward system, similar to eating chocolate, and “helping others through stress soothes our own.” This contrasts with the modern concept of “self-care,” often devoid of community and solidarity.

Cynicism negatively affects us on multiple levels. Cynics tend to be sicker, more depressed, drink more, and die younger than their less cynical counterparts. On a societal level, it erodes relationships, communities, economies, and society itself. Conversely, people in high-trust communities are healthier, happier, and live longer. Zaki equates the benefits of trust to a 40% pay rise. However, cynicism has risen dramatically over the past 50 years, with fewer Americans believing that “most people can be trusted.”

This “trust recession” has serious societal consequences. Zaki introduces various phenomena linked to cynicism, including populism, conspiracy theories, and political polarization. He argues that cynicism is not a radical worldview but a “tool of the status quo,” used by propagandists to sow distrust and maintain elite control. He explains why ordinary people, like an average Californian woman, might fall prey to QAnon, touching on the psychology of our basic existential needs and the impact of attachment theory.

Zaki notes that economic inequality erodes trust, regardless of a nation’s overall wealth. People in more unequal places show higher levels of polarization, hostility, stress, loneliness, materialism, and distrust.

Much of Hope for Cynics resonates with the work of the late epidemiologist Hans Rosling. Both Zaki and Rosling highlight the disparity between public perception and reality. For example, while people believe the rate of violent crime has risen since 1990, actual figures show it has decreased.

Despite the optimism in Zaki and Rosling’s messages, there remains a gnawing doubt. While spreading positivity, we must remember the ongoing suffering in the world, which demands our action. Zaki acknowledges this concern, worrying that hope could become “the sweetener that helps oppression go down easier.” He suggests a balance of “hope mixed with fury” might be more appropriate, capturing the need for both optimism and proactive resistance.

As Rebecca Solnit’s epigraph in Zaki’s book suggests, “Hope is not a lottery ticket you can sit on the sofa and clutch…[It] is an axe you break down doors with in an emergency.” This encapsulates the book’s urgent call for active, hopeful engagement in improving the world.

Source: The Guardian, Robinson