Naive Cynicism: The Bias That Turns Collaboration Into Competition

Naive cynicism makes collaboration feel like competition. In this episode, we unpack the subtle bias that convinces us we’re objective while hidden motives drive everyone else, and explore how that thinking slowly erodes trust and teamwork.

What happens when you stop seeing your teammates as collaborators and start seeing them as competitors with hidden motives?

Ever had a PM question your design and immediately thought, “They just care about their roadmap”? That instinctive thought isn’t insight, it’s naive cynicism, the quiet bias that makes us assume we’re objective while everyone else is playing politics.

In this episode, we dig into the research from Lee Ross, Emily Pronin, Justin Krueger, and Thomas Gilovich to uncover how this bias takes root in teams. From design critiques and sprint reviews to roadmap discussions and leadership dynamics, naive cynicism distorts collaboration by replacing curiosity with suspicion.

You’ll learn how this bias shows up in everyday team interactions and what you can do to stop it. We’ll explore how to recognize your own illusion of objectivity, make reasoning visible, and rebuild trust through transparency and generosity. Because collaboration only works when we give each other the benefit of the doubt.

Topics:

• 01:48 - Recognizing Naive Cynicism in Teams

• 03:01 - Understanding the Roots of Naive Cynicism

• 04:45 - Impact of Naive Cynicism on Team Dynamics

• 07:11 - Strategies to Counter Naive Cynicism

To explore more about the Naive Cynicism, don’t miss the full article @ cognitioncatalog.com

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