What mental function does Cynicism often represent as a psychological defense mechanism during burnout?

Developing a distant, negative, or overly detached attitude toward one's job or responsibilities.

Cynicism in the context of burnout functions primarily as a psychological defense mechanism designed to shield the individual from further stress when emotional and physical reserves have been significantly depleted. This manifestation often involves developing a profound sense of disconnection from work or responsibilities, leading to a distant and negative attitude. Instead of feeling engaged, the individual might start viewing their work as meaningless or their efforts as futile. This detachment serves to reduce immediate emotional investment, which can temporarily minimize the perceived impact of external stressors, but it simultaneously isolates the individual and degrades the quality of their professional engagement. For instance, this might look like curtly managing interactions rather than engaging thoughtfully, simply to expedite task completion and conserve dwindling internal resources.