Hope for Cynics: The Surprising Science of Human Goodness

Thursday, February 27 · 5:30-6:30 pm PST, Virtual Event (Live)

Cynicism is making us sick; Stanford Psychologist Dr. Jamil Zaki has the cure.

In 1972, half of Americans agreed that most people can be trusted; by 2018, only a third did. Different generations, genders, religions, and political parties all think human virtue is evaporating.

Cynicism is an understandable response to a world full of injustice and inequality. But in many cases, it is misplaced. Dozens of studies find that people fail to realize how kind, generous, and open-minded others really are. Cynical thinking deepens social problems: when we expect the worst in people, we often bring it out of them.

We don’t have to remain stuck in this cynicism trap. Through science and storytelling, Jamil Zaki imparts the secret for beating back cynicism: hopeful skepticism—thinking critically about people and our problems, while honoring and encouraging our strengths. Hopeful skepticism is a way of understanding others that can rebalance our view of human nature and help us build the world we truly want.

Jamil Zaki, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Stanford University and the director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Lab. He received his PhD in psychology from Columbia University, and is the author of two books: Hope for Cynics and The War for Kindness.

>> REGISTER: https://jamilzaki2025.eventbrite.com/

This webinar is presented by The Parent Venture, a partner of MI Parent Edge.

This event is part of The Parent Venture's "Parents Under Pressure" Series. In response to the recent NY Times article from Surgeon General Vivek Murthy -- Parents Are At Their Wits' End: We Can Do Better -- The Parent Venture is committed to providing programming that supports parents, caregivers, and educators.