After Skool The Cynical Genius Illusion - Dr. Jamil Zaki | After Skool
Aug 6, 2025
13:25
The Cynical Genius Illusion - Dr. Jamil Zaki
Dr. Jamil Zaki, Ph.D. Is a professor of psychology at Stanford University, director of the Stanford Social Neuroscience Laboratory, and the author of the new book Hope for Cynics. In this episode, he discusses cynicism and its healthier, more adaptive alternative, healthy skepticism, and how embracing healthy skepticism can enhance both our emotional and physical health.
Data reveals how cynicism affects us as individuals and in relationships, causing lower levels of happiness, poorer physical health, and reduced creativity, trust, and collaboration. Dr. Jamil Zaki explains novel data-supported tools that we can use to shift ourselves towards a more informed yet more positive worldview and how to adopt a mindset of “hopeful skepticism” — the ideal stance to navigate life.
Dr. Zaki offers a positive, hopeful view of humanity grounded in cutting-edge research from his laboratory and other top laboratories. He also offers science-supported protocols to navigate relationships in person and online better.
Dr. Jamil Zaki
Website: https://www.jamil-zaki.com
Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/jamil-zaki
Social Neuroscience Laboratory: https://www.ssnl.stanford.edu
Hope for Cynics (book):https://www.jamil-zaki.com/hope-for-cynics
Articles: https://www.jamil-zaki.com/media
X (Personal): https://x.com/zakijam
X (Lab): https://x.com/StanfordSNL
Instagram: / jamil_zaki_psych
LinkedIn: / jamil-zaki-b0b4a9192 Follow the podcast for new episodes. We cannot change the world. But we can change ourselves...and that will change the world. The goal of this podcast is to empower the individual and deliver profound ideas through art. Find After Skool on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterSkool/videos Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent initiative inspired by the thought-provoking content of After Skool. It is created by a viewer who appreciates the depth of the ideas shared and wants to make them more accessible in an audio format. While every effort is made to preserve the essence of the original content, this is not an official After Skool production, nor is it affiliated with or endorsed by After Skool. All rights to the original material belong to After Skool. If you have any concerns regarding this podcast, please feel free to reach out.
Data reveals how cynicism affects us as individuals and in relationships, causing lower levels of happiness, poorer physical health, and reduced creativity, trust, and collaboration. Dr. Jamil Zaki explains novel data-supported tools that we can use to shift ourselves towards a more informed yet more positive worldview and how to adopt a mindset of “hopeful skepticism” — the ideal stance to navigate life.
Dr. Zaki offers a positive, hopeful view of humanity grounded in cutting-edge research from his laboratory and other top laboratories. He also offers science-supported protocols to navigate relationships in person and online better.
Dr. Jamil Zaki
Website: https://www.jamil-zaki.com
Stanford academic profile: https://profiles.stanford.edu/jamil-zaki
Social Neuroscience Laboratory: https://www.ssnl.stanford.edu
Hope for Cynics (book):https://www.jamil-zaki.com/hope-for-cynics
Articles: https://www.jamil-zaki.com/media
X (Personal): https://x.com/zakijam
X (Lab): https://x.com/StanfordSNL
Instagram: / jamil_zaki_psych
LinkedIn: / jamil-zaki-b0b4a9192 Follow the podcast for new episodes. We cannot change the world. But we can change ourselves...and that will change the world. The goal of this podcast is to empower the individual and deliver profound ideas through art. Find After Skool on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@AfterSkool/videos Disclaimer: This podcast is an independent initiative inspired by the thought-provoking content of After Skool. It is created by a viewer who appreciates the depth of the ideas shared and wants to make them more accessible in an audio format. While every effort is made to preserve the essence of the original content, this is not an official After Skool production, nor is it affiliated with or endorsed by After Skool. All rights to the original material belong to After Skool. If you have any concerns regarding this podcast, please feel free to reach out.
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