Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Not doing what one should do is also evil”

President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasized that not doing what one should do is also a form of evil, stating that the greatest cause of evil is prejudice. Tarhan pointed out that the interface between the soul and the brain is the mind, and he explained that the human ego tends to command evil.

President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan made striking evaluations on the topic of “The Psychology of Evil and Toxic Relationships,” providing an in-depth explanation of the psychology of evil and toxic relationships.

Why do humans feel the need to do evil?

Emphasizing that humans are free to engage in infinite goodness or infinite evil, Tarhan stated that “The question of ‘Why do humans do evil?’ is a very important one. Unlike other living beings, humans are not mentally programmed to do evil. They are free to choose between infinite goodness and infinite evil. Some people choose to do evil. Sometimes, even doing nothing is a form of evil. For instance, if a traffic officer neglects their duty, cars may collide. This is evil. On the surface, they might say, ‘I did not do anything,’ but in reality, evil occurred because of their inaction. So not doing what one should do is also evil. As Dante wisely said, ‘The darkest places in hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis.’ This is very meaningful. Therefore, before asking ‘Why do people do evil?’ we must first ask ‘Why do they feel the need for evil?’”

“The balance of good and evil is like the balance of light and darkness”

Providing an example from the law of entropy, Tarhan explained that “The law of entropy is a great example for understanding the balance between good and evil. It is the second law of thermodynamics. According to the law of entropy, if you do not tend to your garden, it will naturally become a wasteland. In other words, if you do not do good, evil arises on its own. In the universe, the balance of good and evil is like the balance of light and darkness. The best way to fight darkness is to light a candle. The way to fight evil is to do good. Not doing good is actually doing evil because the natural course is to take a positive step. When you fail to do so, negativity naturally emerges.”

“Prejudices are the greatest cause of evil”

Stating that dialogue is essential for breaking prejudices, Tarhan expressed that “There are aggressive tendencies, risky behavior tendencies, and these exist in everyone. It is possible to nurture these tendencies in a positive or negative way. That is why research has been conducted to see if there is an ‘evil gene.’ The brains of antisocial individuals work differently. This is not something they are born with; rather, it is caused by learned behaviors that lead to epigenetic changes in the brain. It disrupts gene expression in the human brain.

No one can say, ‘This is my fate, I was born a criminal, I will remain a criminal.’ Whether we direct these tendencies positively or negatively is our responsibility. We cannot ignore our free will. The tendency towards evil or goodness is present from birth. The most selfish being and the most innocent being are both children. When a child does not experience evil, they do not confuse friendship and hostility. For example, if a cat and a dog are raised together, they become like siblings. But if they meet later, they may see each other as enemies. The greatest cause of evil is prejudice. And the best cure for prejudice is dialogue. When there is social contact through dialogue, empathy develops. And when there is empathy, prejudices disappear.”

“If we feed the dark side, it grows; if we feed the good side, the light grows.”

Comparing evil to a cancer cell, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “Evil spreads quickly. If you do not take precautions against it, it takes over. Evil is like a cancer cell. It has three main characteristics: it is limitless, irresponsible, and insatiable. When it starts in the body, it grows by consuming the cells around it. It is so insatiable that it even expands the blood vessels, using most of the oxygen and glucose in the body. It knows no boundaries, is never satisfied, and feels no responsibility. It has no sense of empathy. Evil people are like this. In developed countries, people who have committed crimes are first taught empathy before being released from prison. They are not reintegrated into society without learning empathy, because otherwise, they commit crimes again. Humans can be the best or the worst. We all have a dark part within us, and we are born with it. If we feed the dark side, it grows; if we feed the good side, the light grows.”

“Fighting the past makes you lose the future.”

Emphasizing that traumas should be turned into opportunities, Tarhan explained that “When exploring the psychology of crime and violence, childhood traumas involving crime and violence are significant factors in many disorders. This can include excessive control or intervention by parents, which contributes to childhood trauma. As we move along life’s path, our bodies get scratched, wounded, or cut, and these are trauma scars. If you sit for hours thinking, ‘Why is my hand cut?’ you waste time. Fighting with the past makes you lose the future. In modern therapeutic approaches, this has begun to change. Trauma is present in all of our pasts. If these wounds affect the present, they should be acknowledged, defined, logically processed, and then placed on the shelf. If you relive a traumatic experience from 20 years ago as if it happened last week, you lose your future. This is not a wise approach. Instead, we should focus on turning traumas into opportunities. We should not put childhood traumas on trial. Expecting a life without trauma is unrealistic. Traumas will occur, but what matters is how we manage them and how we respond to them. Evil will also appear before us, and it will teach us how to struggle.”

“The interface between our soul and brain is the mind.”

Explaining that the ego within a person commands evil, Tarhan said that **“Our ego is the part within us that commands evil. It is malicious. It has characteristics such as hatred, anger, envy, and hostility. These are called the ‘five horsemen of darkness.’ When these five dark emotions surge in our brains, the brain releases acidic chemicals. The brain operates on a dopamine focus. When this area is overactive, the feeling we call ego emerges. The ego always thinks about its own interests. Dopamine is the chemical of pleasure. It causes extreme focus and even gives a sense of intoxication. The interface between our soul and brain is the mind. It is this mind that maintains balance.”

“Defining evil is easy, but fighting it is not.”

Stating that efforts should be made to ensure that good people are in the majority and bad people in the minority, Tarhan explained “Evil provides an opportunity for goodness to emerge. The adversities, troubles, and sorrows in life push us to take action against them and help us grow. That is why there is a balance in creation. Bad people are not always bad; failing to manage them is evil. They even asked artificial intelligence, ‘If the devil were around today, what would it do?’ And AI answered, ‘It would use digital manipulation.’ Defining evil is easy, but fighting it is not. There is a dynamic balance of opposites in nature. Both black and white are necessary. Our focus should be on choosing which side we are on. Our goal should be to ensure that good people are in the majority and bad people are in the minority. Evil cannot be completely eliminated.”

“We are living in a period when evil is at its peak globally.”

Touching on the normalization of evil, Tarhan stated:
**“We must always be vigilant against evil. Just as heat is balanced by cold, goodness must be active to combat evil. Evil is passive, while goodness is active. If goodness is not active, evil naturally overtakes it.

This is what keeps the balance. Collective evil arises when the number of bad people increases. This has always been the case in history. When bad people increase, humanity experiences the negative consequences of evil and then says, ‘Humanity is doomed!’ This is when good people begin to multiply.

Currently, we are living in a period when evil is at its peak globally. The negative consequences of evil are becoming apparent. The events in Gaza are a striking example. In the case of Gaza, it seems that evil has become normalized. People there are being dehumanized, considered ‘less than human,’ making evil seem ordinary. This is how collective evil emerges.”

“Evil should not be exposed.”

Noting that evil is attractive but also deceptive, Tarhan explained: “Evil is expansive; it is viral. Talking about evil can confuse and mislead pure minds. That is why evil should not be exposed. It has a false allure, like a shop window that looks full but is actually empty. Evil is attractive in appearance but is fake. It lures a person, then pulls them into its domain and poisons them. That is why raising awareness about evil is essential. Being aware of evil is already 50% of the solution. Once you recognize it, finding solutions becomes easier. If the ruler you use is crooked, the line you draw will not be straight. Our standard of good and evil is crucial. That is why everyone must establish their own sense of good and evil in their minds.”

“Self-awareness is the first condition.”

Discussing self-perception, Tarhan stated that “If a person’s ideal self is too high, they present a different self to the outside world than their true self. They show the self they aspire to be rather than who they truly are. These are arrogant individuals with egos as their largest organ. Some people whistle in a graveyard, and you think they are brave, but in reality, they whistle to fight their fear. They do it because they are afraid. Such people try to survive by playing a strong role because they feel worthless. For narcissists, the gap between their real self and their ideal self is vast. On the other hand, some have low self-esteem. Although their self is actually decent, they see themselves as worthless, making them prone to depression. The first condition in life is to know oneself. This is called self-awareness. The second is self-management, that is, being able to manage oneself. The third is relationship management, that is,being able to build and manage healthy relationships with others. The fourth is self-regulation, but the first condition is always self-awareness. After that, a person will motivate themselves, set goals, and draw a roadmap accordingly.”

 

 

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)