Prof. Tarhan explained the effects of 'excessive and negative attachment' to animals
President of Üsküdar University Psychiatrist Prof. Tarhan explained the effects of 'excessive and negative attachment' to animals to Anadolu Agency reporter Ömer Faruk Madanoğlu. Stating that human beings have an expectation of unconditional love due to their nature, Tarhan emphasized that people receive unconditional love more easily than animals. Tarhan said that disorders such as avoidance of human relationships, fear of loss, depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and social phobia may develop in individuals with excessive and negative attachment.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan told Anadolu Agency (AA) that people are psychologically inclined to develop relationships that they can trust, and that individuals, especially those who have lost trust in human relations, move away from their social environment and turn to animals, and this situation can turn into an unhealthy form of attachment when overdone over time.
Tarhan said, "If a person creates a polarization that loving animals is good and loving people is bad, he will tend to avoid people, hate them and act intemperately in their love for animals. The reactions of individuals who behave intemperately can also be disproportionate."
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that disorders such as avoidance of human relations, fear of loss, depression, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive behaviors and social phobia may develop in individuals who show 'excessive and negative attachment' towards animals.
Stating that human beings have an expectation of unconditional love due to their nature, Tarhan emphasized that people receive unconditional love more easily than animals.
Pointing out that the fact that a person's object of love is a cat or a dog is considered healthy as long as it is not separated from other socializations in life, Tarhan said that sometimes people can create negative attachment as a result of the wounds they receive in relationships.
Explaining that in negative attachment, some individuals may look for a relationship that will "fully obey them" while looking for an entity they can trust when their trust in people decreases, Tarhan continued as follows:
"They are attached to beings who can be fully obedient and establish a kind of slave-master relationship with them. This is because animals do not make too many demands on them and are easy for ego gratification. Some people who have not been able to solve their social problems become overly attached to animals and create a kind of defense mechanism to sustain themselves. This is actually an escape mechanism from trauma and fear. This kind of attachment to animals is a negative and unhealthy attachment."
Stating that individuals who experience complete social isolation can sometimes turn animals into an "obsessive object of love", Tarhan said that "People who see their negative excessive attachment to animals as a bond of love experience narcissistic satisfaction. In other words, the fear of losing the asset in which he has invested in satisfying his own ego begins. We come across cases of severe depression when one loses their dog or the asset in which they have invested love due to fear of loss. We see that the patient is so depressed and cannot get out of bed."
At the same time, explaining that if a person develops an understanding of 'loving animals is good, loving people is bad', it will create a polarization, Tarhan said that "If it creates polarization, it tends to avoid people, hate people and act intemperately in their love for animals. The emotional reactions of individuals who behave intemperately can also be disproportionate."
Stating that a thought such as 'people should die, animals should not die' is irrational and that these people instrumentalize animals to 'expose' themselves, Tarhan said, "This thought can usually be explained by oppositional defiant disorder. People who want to expose themselves use social media a lot. Some people satisfy their ego by constantly showcasing their relationship with animals. It's one thing to share good examples about animals, it's another thing to instrumentalize animals to satisfy one's ego."