Is cynicism the opposite of naivete?

I don’t think that giving people the benefit of the doubt means you are naive – it simply means you are a kind and caring person. Also, I think it is impossible to just decide to become jaded, that is a long term process people go through after (a series of) bad experiences.

I don’t think so. Being cynical is something you intentionally do towards a person or group of people. Merely avoiding making a call about a person(s) is not being cynical it is being non-judgmental.

You shouldn’t be just strictly one or the other.
I suppose having a balance of both is alright.
You shouldn’t necessarily be naive as in clueless or oblivious, but you should operate with your guard down at times which will allow you to form relationships and seize opportunities.
You shouldn’t be cynical in a sense of being distrusting, but it’s good to be careful and aware of the type of people in your life and whether or not they are good for you.
So in a sense, you’d be open yet cautious. Open enough to make friends, but cautious enough to do what’s in your best interest of keeping you happy and safe.
Just find a balance.

I would think the opposite of naive is street-smart.
The opposite of cynical is hopeful.

I agree with @Lve. You are a kind person @SuperMouse. That’s something you just can’t get rid of.

Being cynical is a conscious choice. Naivete is not a conscious choice. That’s what I have always thought anyway. :D

Well, you would think that, @filmfann. ~~

I like that…“the benefit of the doubt”. I doubt he is a good person. I doubt he is a bad person. Very obscure when used. My mother always told me to not be judgemental…give the other person the benefit of doubt…now it makes sense. She meant it as a two sided sword.

@bummer—close, I think. But if I doubt that someone is a good person, then I don’t give them a “benefit of the doubt” there. That’s a true negative. On the other hand, if I just have no idea of a person’s character, then they’re surrounded by doubt, and I’d give the person the “benefit of [that] doubt” to trust (at least a little bit). I’m not giving anyone the benefit of the doubt—and trusting him with my life.

No. Experience is the opposite of naivete. Cynicism is one type of attitude a person can develop, based on how they view what they experience.

Naivete is an opinion.

Cynicism is a product of life lessons.

Cynicism is insistence on seeing things in the worst possible light.
Naivete is refusal to notice the dark sides of things.

Both are choices, designed to protect us from more anxiety than we think we can handle.

Naivete comes from lack of experience. Someone who starts out naive could end up cynical. The opposite of cynical is Pollyannish.

@phillis No. Experience is the opposite of naivete. Cynicism is one type of attitude a person can develop, based on how they view what they experience. very good answer, worth repeating.

no

I can see this. Naive in the sense of being trustful on the one hand; cynical in the sense of being disbelieving on the other. However, with other synonyms for those two words, it wouldn’t work so well. Naive as young and cynical as jaded isn’t quite so opposite.