Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said "Life is a choice" in Gaziantep!

Exams are stresses that improve a person in life...

Prof. Tarhan gave a "Life is a Choice" interview at Gaziantep University, where the effects of psychology on academic life were discussed, and Tarhan stated that “Exams are also stresses that improve a person in life. Therefore, it is good to take calculable risks. A person who does not take risks cannot learn anything. Life is a risk, and living is a risk."

Stating that we should not be afraid of mistakes, Prof. Tarhan said that "You will make mistakes. Success in life happens at the end of the struggle. You look at people who have overcome difficulties, if they can show flexibility in the face of difficulties, they can learn something, they can achieve something. Let us not be afraid of the exam, and let us be afraid of attributing the wrong meaning to the exam."

President of Üsküdar University Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan attended the program organized by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of National Education. The effects of psychology on academic life were discussed in the conversation titled "Life is a Choice", moderated by Şaban Özdemir at Gaziantep University - Mavera Congress and Art Center.

The exam, which is perceived as a threat, increases stress...

Stating that today, the exam has turned into either a source of stress or a development opportunity in line with the meaning we attribute to it, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "If we attribute the right meaning to the exam, we see it as an element that supports our development. However, if we perceive the exam as a threat, it increases our stress levels. University exams or exams of university students are important examples in this respect. Similarly in life, every choice we make from the moment we are born is like a test. Life is, in fact, made up of the sum of our choices. Exams should be seen as opportunities for development in the journey of life, instead of obstacles that keep us awake."

Even psychology has now become 'computational psychology'...

Pointing out the importance of learning mathematics in the program attended by approximately 2 thousand students, Prof. Tarhan stated that "Developments in neuroscience in recent years have made it clearer that mathematics is a basic science. Interestingly, mathematics does not have a Nobel Prize; however, mathematics is at the heart of all science. Mathematical calculations have an important place in every field such as physics, chemistry and biology. Even psychology has now become 'computational psychology'. After quantum physics, many branches of science have become portable to a computational dimension. Learning math improves the neural networks in our brains. While dealing with mathematics, we establish cause-effect relationships and work on sequencing and connectivity. The brain is an organ that works with the connections between its regions."

Try to love math!

Stating that learning mathematics has a protective effect against diseases such as Alzheimer's, Prof. Tarhan said that "If you work with the benefit in mind, mathematics will not bore you... Try to love math by thinking long-term. Human love and hate are variable. A person can love someone they hate very much, and they can hate someone they love. Our ancestors found the foundations of mathematics. We neglected it later.”

If you think process-oriented, stress becomes manageable

Stating that learning a foreign language can also bore people, Prof. Tarhan said that "Learning a language can be difficult; however, a person can be motivated to work when one asks the question 'Why do I need this language?' and finds a clear answer to this question. The same goes for exams. When you struggle in the exam, thinking about the result increases your stress. However, if you think process-oriented, stress becomes manageable. If the approach is taken such as I need to study two hours a day and take 100 tests to prepare for this exam, the focus is on a plan that can be controlled. Since the result is often out of our control, fixating on it increases anxiety. Success is something we cannot control directly; however, it is up to us to make a plan on the way to success and stick to this plan. Therefore, it is healthier to focus on controlling the process rather than thoughts that increase anxiety."

Life is risk, living is risk!

Noting that there are three different approaches to stress management, Prof. Tarhan continued his remarks as follows:

"Some people are always complaining. They cry all the time. They always complain about something. They suck everything in like a sponge, they collapse. They become depressed easily. Some people are reckless, careless. They are self-centered. We call them Teflon type. It does not burn itself; however, it burns those who come into contact with it. Those types seem to be comfortable, but in the long run, they will be alone, they will lose. They are usually not loved when they lose the power and opportunity they have. There are also rubber types. They yawn and become their original state again. In other words, you will learn something from the event you are stressing about, you will be back to your old self. Exams are also developing stresses in life. Therefore, it is good to take calculable risks. A person who does not take risks cannot learn anything. Life is a risk, and living is a risk."

Let’s Be Afraid of Misinterpreting Exams, Not the Exams Themselves!

Stating that everyone can make mistakes in life, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "We should not be afraid of mistakes. You are going to make mistakes. Success in life happens at the end of the struggle. You look at people who have overcome difficulties, if they can show flexibility in the face of difficulties, they can learn something, they can achieve something. Let's not be afraid of the exam, let's be afraid of attributing the wrong meaning to the exam."

It is necessary to develop emotional intelligence skills in psychological resilience

Referring to the issue of psychological resilience, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that "It is necessary to develop emotional intelligence skills in order to carry out psychological resilience. There is the PERMA model, which has five pillars of emotional intelligence skills. This is a method we use in psychological resilience training. The first is called Positive Emotion. It is a positive emotion. It is necessary to see both the negative and positive sides of things. However, our focus should be positive. People who have a positive outlook react more evenly to events and manage stress better. Being able to evaluate events with both positive and negative aspects reduces the margin of error and enables a healthier progress."

Doing a job you love increases your productivity...

Stating that the second element of the PERMA model is Engagement, that is, "engagement" or "flow", Prof. Tarhan said that "This means that the person is completely immersed in a job he loves and does not notice how time passes. If you can focus on a subject in this way, you have successfully completed the second step of the PERMA model. In the case of flow, work does not feel like a burden because the person does what they do with love and passion. Being truly engaged and doing something you love will both increase your productivity and make you enjoy the job."

People who pursue meaning and purpose in life strengthen their psychological resilience

Explaining that the third element of the PERMA model is Relationship, Prof. Tarhan stated that "People who have strong social relations, become a part of a social network and can communicate positively with people gain psychological resilience. These individuals are able to cope with challenges more easily. However, some people can be fragile in their social relationships. Being able to establish healthy relationships is the third pillar. The fourth element of the PERMA model is Meaning. People who pursue meaning and purpose in life strengthen their psychological resilience. We can compare this to a ship leaving the port. If the destination of the ship is not clear, the wind blows it left and right. However, if the target is clear, the wind makes the captain's job easier."

Self-transcendence of the individual...

Referring to Maslow's Pyramid of Needs, Prof. Tarhan said that "Maslow's pyramid says that in order for people to achieve happiness, their basic needs must be met in order. While physiological needs (food, shelter, reproduction) are at the most basic level, the need to love, trust, trust and be respected comes at the next level. Then there is the need for self-actualization, and this has been considered the highest level of the pyramid for many years. However, in 2017, a researcher discovered that Maslow had added another layer to the pyramid in his last work in the 70s. This is a layer called spiritual needs or transcendental needs that the capitalist system ignores. This need represents the individual's desire to transcend oneself and do something for society and humanity, to serve others. People who transcend themselves and lead a life of benefit for others become happier, more robust and able to make healthy decisions for the future."

Small successes are needed for psychological resilience

Noting that the fifth pillar of the PERMA model is Accomplishment, that is, "success", Prof. Tarhan stated that "People need small successes to develop psychological resilience. However, these successes should not be limited to the pursuit of instant gratification. Watching a football match or listening to music is enjoyable, but it does not contribute to the development of the individual in the long run. Individuals who think strategically and long-term focus on improving themselves by investing in the future."

It also means psychological resilience, flexibility and resilience

Stating that having a goal is an important step to improve oneself and university education is a tool on this path, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "Success is not limited to academic success; Life success should be supported by social and emotional skills. These skills are not taught enough in schools, and it is mostly gained in life, with experience. Around the world, however, social and emotional skills are beginning to be incorporated into education systems. In Türkiye, too, new education models go beyond information overload. It is aimed to raise individuals who ask questions, produce projects and have mental flexibility. Mental flexibility is an important ability to cope with stress. People who are able to engage Plan B or Plan C when Plan A fails are more resilient and successful in life. It means psychological resilience, flexibility and endurance; Thanks to these traits, individuals do not break in the face of adversity, but rather thrive."

Competition is human nature

Stating that competition is an element that exists in the psychological nature of human beings, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "In our Anatolian culture, the teachings of Mevlana and Yunus Emre offer a point of view: 'Have property, money, property, fame, but do not take them to your heart.' That is, hold on to everything about the world, work hard, but do not put it at the center of your heart. Of course, it is easy to say and difficult to implement. If a person acts in accordance with high emotions and high goals, worldly things such as wealth, possessions, and fame will not lead one astray. That is why they can serve people, our culture teaches this. That is why one is currently teaching it in their emotional intelligence training. The science of positive psychology was developed by taking it from Anatolian lore. This is one of the reasons why I got into areas such as Yunus Emre therapy, Rumi therapy, love therapy. In 2012, I felt the need to write books in these fields."

There is no life without competition

Noting that work is essential for academic success, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that "You have to work, but you will set your goal. After that, you will work regularly, you will work planned. Being able to pay attention and concentrate is also very important. People who can concentrate on what you are doing can catch the feeling of flow and work for hours. They have very strong justifications for the study. The new generations now think they are in existence. Generation Z is the social media generation. Internet generation... It is more difficult for them to mature because they are born in existence and they get easily. And for that, they need to raise targets. They need to see what they have as an opportunity. There is no life without competition. But the competition is misunderstood. Competition, for example, is understood to compete with another friend, competition is understood as competition between companies. Competition is competing with ourselves. It is not about competing with others.”

It is necessary to learn the software like a foreign language

Stating that artificial intelligence is an important means of change like electricity or printing, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan expressed that "Instead of opposing artificial intelligence, we need to use artificial intelligence in our own argument. In other words, it is necessary to learn the software as if you were learning a foreign language. We should be able to do something about the software, we should be able to add software to the work we do."

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)