Thursday, February 17, 2022

Cynicism Versus Sincerity

In a world of Shreks, be a Little Bear

By André van Heerden, Communications Director

When my children were younger, we were exposed to a lot of children’s TV programming. Most of it was brash, loud, and hectic. Many of the movies were the same, and often came with irreverent, satirical humour and characters. Movies like Shrek, Hotel Transylvania, and Despicable Me are funny and entertaining but they’re also manic and have a cynical edge to them.

One particular TV show was completely different: Little Bear. It has a whimsical orchestral score, simple hand-drawn animation, and animal characters who are all nice and curious and go on simple adventures where they learn a little bit about life, their world, and each other. There’s no bad guy, no secret plots, no gross humour or gags, and no references to pop culture. Little Bear’s friends are all kind to one another and his mom and dad love and care for him.

In describing it, I can’t believe it ever became a series! Yet it ran for eight years, producing 66 episodes and inspiring a movie. Some viewer reviews from IMDb show why it was such a hit:

“When Little Bear first started when I was three, I loved it. At 18, I still love it. Why? It is fun, it is innocent, and it is cute.”

“The stories are simple for sure, but that’s a good thing. Innocent and delightful, and to me, a very fond memory.”

“Little Bear is a very sweet show with a simple plotline and nice character interactions that teach good values and behaviours. Nobody is trying to trick or exclude anybody or are obnoxious or rude, which I often notice in some other children’s programming.”

Over and over again, the reviews note that the show is innocent and fun. And as much as it appeals to children (my four kids all loved it), it’s adults who are writing the reviews!

Byron Howard, the director of movies like Tangled, Zootopia, and Encanto, commented that “cynicism is easy, because it demands nothing from you. Intellectually and emotionally, sincerity requires commitment and risk.”

And I think that’s the biggest draw for a show like Little Bear. It doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is, and it’s sincere in its stories about honesty, friendship, forgiveness, and family.

At work, it’s easy to complain about a whole number of things. Every job is going to have its challenges; and of course, working with other people will always add other potential frustrations. If you’re looking to make small talk with your coworkers, it’s easiest to get a reaction and agreement about what’s going wrong rather than what’s going right.

Instead, what if we highlighted something that’s good, or gone well, or something we’re looking forward to? It’s taking a risk because others may disagree, but it also offers something different to the conversation—something positive and hopeful.

Jennifer Kunst, PhD, a clinical psychologist and psychoanalyst, wrote in Psychology Today: “the cost of cynicism is great. It blocks change. It burns bridges. It builds walls. It undermines good will. It sinks compromise. It escalates conflict. We hear about it every week in the news. I hear about it every day in my psychotherapy office. A sour look, a cross word, or a poorly worded communication is used as evidence of betrayal and lends strength to isolation, depression, and discord. A misunderstanding becomes an avenue to violence. A traffic stop becomes a powder keg. Where there is no trust, there is no way to build something truly constructive, secure, and good.”

Conversely, she notes that in the 1950s, British psychoanalyst Melanie Klein wrote that "belief in goodness is the foundation for the health of an individual and a society.”

Many might think that being too trusting could hold you back, but a 2015 University of Cologne study says otherwise. “The results suggest that if you are wary of giving your trust, worry about being taken advantage of, and think everyone is out for themselves, you’re likely to have a lower income now (and in the future) than people with a more rosy view of humanity.”

So the next time you’re at work, maybe instead of viewing it as Shrek would, think like Little Bear.

Cynicism Versus Sincerity

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