Part 6/7:
Underneath the pervasive cynicism, there is great news. Decades of research have found that people consistently underestimate how generous, open-minded, trustworthy, and friendly others are. By paying closer attention to the data, we can rediscover the values most of us share and work for them together.
The alternative to cynicism is not naivety, but rather "hopeful skepticism." Skeptics don't use blanket assumptions but pay attention to the data, protecting themselves when necessary but also making connections, collaborations, and friendships. Hopeful skeptics realize that our default is too negative, and when we pay closer attention, we'll find that many people are better than we assume.