Cynicism explained

Antisthenes started a group of ancient Greeks called the Cynics, who had their ideas. Today, the word usually refers to the views of people who don’t believe in people’s sincerity, virtue, or altruism. These are people who say that only self-interest drives people’s actions.

A modern cynic usually has a very low opinion of social norms, especially those that have more of a ceremonial purpose than a practical one. They also tend to think that a lot of popular beliefs, conventional morality, and accepted wisdom are out of date or don’t matter.