"In research on the underlying motivation of the Machiavellian, TU Dorman University's Christian Blötner and Sebastian Bergold proposed that what they call 'avoidance' motivation leads these individuals to experience a deep sense of distrust and highly 'negative views of human nature," Whitbourne explained.
But not all cynics would qualify as people high on this overall trait of Machiavellianism. "It's possible that the very skeptical have simply developed a so-called 'cognitive style,' or analytical type of mindset that causes them to look at situations from all possible angles."
"Indeed, you might argue that some form of cynicism is adaptive," Whitbourne said. "Think about the highly gullible people you know who are easily swayed by whatever winds might be sweeping over the media landscape. Not only could they put themselves at risk for being swindled by the ads that fund the media landscape, but they can also be led to accept faulty information that puts their health and well-being in jeopardy. Maybe it is better to think twice or perhaps three times before rushing into such a poor decision."
In fact, knowing why some people believe in unsubstantiated claims and why misinformation guides their actions can be a valuable tool for resisting these traps. If you question loud phrases, you aren't automatically a cynic. Maybe you're just (a very healthy) skeptic.
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