I would like to learn relations between student cynicism and life satifaction. Does student cynicism affect student life satifaction in higher education? or Does student life satifaction (comparing self, school, family, friendsi social enviorment) affect student cynicism ?
Thanks,
Gamze
Hein, the majority of the university students in the United States are not cynical. However, there has always been an intellectual fringe that are, especially in English, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science. Others are too, but those five departments seem to have the largest contingents.
Cynicism is not a virtue, but a behavior that we regret when it occurs in our fellow human beings. Cynicism does not mean friendly mockery or irony, but a contemptuous attitude. I don't want to have anything to do with people who treat other people cynically. Something else is dealing with irony, which always also affects the attitude of the speaker in the sense of self-ironization.
When a student has inferiority complex , there will be a tendency by this "psychologically ill person" for aggressive behavior in compensation and a manifest image of this compensation is becoming cynical towards others. This attitude is , of course, against common sense.
Have you looked at the work of Cazan, A. M., & Năstasă, L. E. (2015) ?
Emotional intelligence, satisfaction with life and burnout among university students. Procedia-Social and Behavioral Sciences, 180, 1574-1578.
Article Emotional Intelligence, Satisfaction with Life and Burnout a...
Many students come to the university asking why? What does it all mean? Is anything really real? In the 1950's it was the beatniks. In the 1960's-early 1970's it was the Hippies. We are now drifting through an anti-materialist movement. Often these are the most intellectual of your students. However, one must be alert. These are often the student group that is most prone to become morose, despondent and engage in activities that could cause self harm ( including suicide). Although most quickly outgrow it and become outstanding graduates.
When asked if the cynicism of the students influences their situation at the university, this question is not understandable for everyone. Why should students be cynical? I can't understand it. Or is the majority of students at US universities cynical? That would be a new message. In order to discuss the question appropriately, there must be a broad background that helps to avoid misinterpretations.
Hein, the majority of the university students in the United States are not cynical. However, there has always been an intellectual fringe that are, especially in English, Psychology, Philosophy, Sociology and Political Science. Others are too, but those five departments seem to have the largest contingents.
Thanks, Gregg, for your hint. I think so. But also I admit that cynism and grim sense of humour are the last weapons to remain upright in a world which knocks down many people.
Hein, I agree. I was a cop for 30 years before becoming a professor. I was a soldier before I was a cop. Cynicism and a dark sense of humor were survival mechanisms in those trades. If you did not laugh, you might scream.
For sure that student cynicism affects their life satisfaction in higher education
But the question, what we can do, what is to university social responsibility can do to help student to be positive
I assume that cynicism towards others affects one's own identity. Especially if you think that you have won a linguistic victory by cynical utterances, you can never get a feeling of real satisfaction, because cynicism is not a social and helping behaviour.
Cynicism is a defence mechanism like e.g. use of humour. It can serve as a coping mechanism with a difficult situation leading to depression and self-harm. Check these out:
There are some situations where you run the risk of reacting cynically: when you yourself are in a difficult life situation and see others making life easy for themselves and making fun of it. Then a cynical answer is a reaction to fellow human beings who are too well off to recognize - or want to recognize - other people's problems. This is also a kind of cynicism towards the sufferers of society, but this cynical behaviour is hidden behind the mask of exuberant enjoyment of life.
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