We are all strong, choosing to be weak, because its easier.
"Your first response was a definition. Did you include the listed synonyms? Distrust was one, and the definition calls it a belief that people are motivated purely by self-interest."
Why would I have? It is easy to see how cynicism and distrust are related. But they are two different concepts, tethered by suspicion.
"What can make an individual's cynical worldview more negative leaning as opposed to neutral depends on what the interpret the self-interest of others to be."
Definitely. I believe all people always act in self-interest, spare some reflexive biological functions like crying, or a knee jerking during a reflex test. My view is quite different from my ex-step-father's, who frequently shouted in earnestness, "everyone's out to get me."
"I do have traits of paranoid personality disorder, but that is not mutually exclusive with cynicism. I can agree that a hypervigilant nature can affect how a person applies their cynicism and whether or not it comes with openness. For some, it can and does. For me it doesn't."
That's sensible. The intent of the question was for an elaboration of thoughts on it in a response.
"It does describe cynicism. Not the experience of all cynics, but of a theoretical cynical person for the purpose of my comparative post."
My contention was that it addressed a subset and not the set itself.
"Yeah no one can be completely selfish without like giving their life for someone. I do think it is possible to get pretty close and have minimal selfish intents. I think that is the best I could ever hope to give or receive."
Giving your life for someone else is selfish. Your desires can even override your biological programming. Altruism is an amalgamation of emotions, genetics, life experiences, and probably other factors I don't care to brainstorm about at the moment.
It might be selfish I guess... I do see the gain is so minimal. It is probably the smallest gain plausible. It brings them a brief sense of purpose and satisfaction before they shut off for good. It is such a temporary gain small reward for the one who is sacrificing themselves compared to the sacrifice in of itself.
Cynical is a different word from cynic. Just as egotistical is a different word from ego.
"So cynicism can manifest as I describe it, or it can be constructive."
"I'm talking about the disillusionment that more negatively colored cynicism can sometimes lead to. I'm also talking about how it can be a mindset resulting from past experiences. Even if the experiences are not horrible, and even if the cynicism is more of the neutral sort, if it still comes about due to these experiences than they obviously affected the person. It is arguable that someone whose worldview does not change despite their experiences has not been profoundly affected by them. This is not necessarily true, but can be."
I don't disagree.