Being Cynical Could Hurt Your Income, Study Finds

Amy Taylor June 30, 2015

Are you a ‘difficult’ person? Are you always cynical? Do you have issues trusting other people? Having a bad attitude can affect your income, according to a new study.

The research, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, found that high levels of cynicism are associated with lower income. Researchers report that after nine years, cynical participants earned $300 per month less than their more positive counterparts.

Why would cynical people lose money?

The researchers think that unwillingness to trust others may lead to a refusal to cooperate. Additionally, their constant suspicion of other people’s motives may make them less likely to collaborate and less likely to ask for help, both of which can harm their careers.

Interestingly, the study found that the earnings disparity didn’t hold true for participants who resided in areas where there was widespread antisocial behaviour like a high homicide rate. In these areas, where a suspicious outlook is likely to serve as a safety measure, a cynical attitude didn’t interfere with economic achievement.

Not only does having a negative attitude affects your income. It also puts a huge toll on your health. According to a 2009 study published in Circulation, an American Heart Association Journal, cynicism puts women at a greater risk of developing heart disease. Meanwhile, a 2010 study reported in Brain, Behaviour, and Immunity journal, showed an association between hostility and cynicism and inflammation in the body. Another research, published in 2014 in the journal Neurology, showed that having a cynical attitude puts a person at risk of dementia.

Developing a more positive outlook is crucial to maintaining good health, physical and mental. But it doesn’t mean believing that there’s nothing wrong in people, or in the world. Rather, it means having a more realistic view of the world and the people in it. Not only does it make you healthy, but being more optimistic can boost your income too.

Source of this article: A Bad Attitude Could Cost You $3,600 a Year