Cynics earn less money than optimists, study finds
Many times the optimists are criticized for not having their feet on the ground. Although the excess of optimism can be harmful, especially when one stops being objective and is carried away by unfounded optimism, or Research reveals that optimistic people earn more money than cynical people .
Cynicism has a price
Being a cynical person has a price: it causes you to earn less money. This is the conclusion reached by the researchers from the University of Cologne (Germany). The study, published by the APA (American Psychological Association) and headed by Olga Stavrova and Daniel Ehlebracht, affirms that cynicism is not only affects physical and emotional health, but also affects the portfolio.
This only happens in countries with high levels of altruistic behavior and a low homicide rate. In this group are Holland, Italy, Finland and Sweden.
Cynicism affects the health and the portfolio
Olga Stravova, a researcher at the Institute of Sociology and Social Psychology at the University of Cologne, says: "Previous research on the consequences of having an attitude of cynicism indicate that it negatively affects different aspects. Cynicism has negative consequences for physical health, psychological well-being, the relationship of a couple and, as this study states, the pocket of the cynical person ".
This investigation revealed that the optimists earn an average of $ 3,600 more per year than the cynics . In addition, the latter often miss valuable opportunities to work as a team and cooperate with people who can help them increase their income.
The study used data from Europe and the United States
The study involved more than 16,000 subjects who responded to questionnaires that measured distrust and attitude of cynicism. Afterwards, these results were compared with the income of the respondents. The participants were people residing in Europe and the United States and the study combines results from different investigations.
The first investigation used data from 1,146 participants who participated in a survey of Americans' Changing Lives in 2002 and 2011.
The second study used data from 497 participants in a study published in the General Social Survey that was conducted in 2010 and 2012. The responses were similar to the study mentioned above.
The third study involved 15,698 Germans who were surveyed annually from 2003 to 2012. The findings were similar in all the studies.
Despite the results obtained, Olga Stavrova, the co-author of the research, points out that "paradoxically in other countries where there is less philanthropy and more antisocial behavior, the most cynical people earn less than the optimists. This happens in countries where this type of attitude is justified on a cultural level. "
