Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “We have an invisible family insurance”
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated as a special guest speaker in the opening program of the "Family University" initiative launched under the scope of the “Year of the Family” by the Ministry of Family and Social Services, Boğaziçi University, and Başakşehir Municipality. Emphasizing that the declaration of the Year of the Family would make this project highly beneficial, Tarhan highlighted the importance of adopting a holistic family policy. He noted that Turkish society has an invisible form of family insurance embedded in its culture and emphasized the need to preserve this structure.
The event was held at Boğaziçi University’s South Campus Rectorate Conference Hall.
The program, which aims to strengthen the family institution as the fundamental building block of society, was attended by Deputy Minister of Family and Social Services Leman Yenigün, Başakşehir Mayor Yasin Kartoğlu, Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Mehmet Naci İnci, academicians, and many distinguished guests.
“I congratulate everyone involved”
Highlighting the importance of declaring the Year of the Family, Prof. Tarhan said that “The concept of ‘Family University’ is very timely as we focus on the Year of the Family. The declaration of the Year of the Family and the emphasis placed on this issue by the President have successfully drawn public attention. We see reflections of this in society, such as decreasing birth rates, increasing divorces, and rising household fragility. These indicators show that we are facing a serious crisis. There is a wound that needs healing. Solving this requires coordinated efforts from NGOs, universities, municipalities, governorates, and the state. Because the social dimension of this issue is very strong, I would like to congratulate all those who contributed to the creation and development of the Family University concept.”
“In 2019, we launched a project called ‘families at university’”
Tarhan explained the “Families at University” project launched in 2019 by Üsküdar University and NPİSTANBUL Hospital, noting its significant achievements and outcomes. At that time, the district governorships of Pendik and Üsküdar on the Anatolian side, and Gaziosmanpaşa and Eyüp on the European side participated in the project. Our governor was Mr. Ali Yerlikaya, who strongly supported the initiative. We launched the project officially and later turned it into a book published by our university. Through the project, we reached over a thousand individuals. Later, Gaziantep Municipality and Minister Fatma Şahin implemented it in Gaziantep, where we provided trainer training. Currently, a Family Academy has been established there. Within this framework, they offer spiritual counseling, legal advice, and mediation services to address problems more effectively.”
“We aim to protect the family on multiple levels”
Tarhan described the stages of family protection and stated that “Primary protection includes preventive strategies like lifestyle education to support the development of healthy individuals. The globally rising trend of positive psychology is part of this. This approach emphasizes strengthening positive aspects in communication rather than focusing on problems. Secondary protection targets at-risk families, especially those affected by violence or crisis through support programs. Tertiary protection involves rehabilitation. Through initiatives guided by this framework, we aim to safeguard families at various levels.”
“The weakening of the family is a global problem”
Tarhan discussed the factors undermining the family institution and stated that “The weakening of the family is not unique to Türkiye; it is a global problem. One of the main causes is secularism, living life focused solely on worldly concerns. Philosophical secularization weakens moral responsibility and promotes self-centeredness. Individuals alienated from religious and spiritual values begin to view family as a burden. The mindset of ‘Why should I get married? I want to live for myself’ reflects this attitude. Unfortunately, this has become a global norm. Another factor is social anomie, the weakening of societal norms. In the past, neighborhood pressure, group oversight, and social control mechanisms helped maintain balance. Those mechanisms are now gone, and the family has become the last refuge. But even that refuge has an open door, the digital world. Through the internet, every kind of influence enters the home. Thirdly, individualism: today, the individual is considered sacred, not the family. An invisible social virus is at play, that is, narcissism. Under the guise of individualism, societies are being built with inflated egos. This global narcissism is one of the most powerful yet unseen forces behind the breakdown of the family.”
“A holistic family policy is needed”
Emphasizing the rise in household fragility, Tarhan continued his remarks as follows: Between 2001 and 2018, if you look at Turkish statistics, you will see a sharp increase in single-person households and a rapid decline in five-person households. This correlates with declining fertility rates. The outcomes of this trend have become increasingly apparent. The core issue is rising household fragility. For example, the rate of out-of-wedlock births is 54% in Norway, 56% in Sweden, 44% in Finland, 59% in France, 69% in Iceland, 36% in Ireland, 47% in the UK, 35% in Japan, and only 2.9% in Türkiye. This is striking. In Scandinavian countries, there are even ‘baby boxes’, not like babies abandoned in front of mosques but placed anonymously in secure boxes outside hospitals or social institutions. The government raises these children. Some of these countries now have out-of-wedlock birth rates exceeding 50%. If we do not take preventive action now, we may face similar outcomes in 20 years. That is why the Year of the Family initiative is so vital. If we fail to take precautions today, we will encounter similar challenges tomorrow. Solutions require public health measures. The Ministry of Health must take action regarding the physical and mental well-being of children. Another key area is housing. The Ministry of Family and Social Services must continue to support housing and social welfare. When we examine the situation, Türkiye is still in a relatively fortunate position. However, to preserve and strengthen this status, a comprehensive, holistic family policy is essential.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “We have an invisible family insurance”
Highlighting the presence of a solidarity network in Turkish society, Prof. Tarhan stated that “Right now, we actually have an invisible family insurance. It is a solidarity network that the society has formed internally. When there is a crisis or economic hardship, uncles, aunts, cousins, that is, everyone comes together to support each other. This social solidarity network is still a major advantage for Türkiye. If we can preserve this cultural structure, we are still fortunate when it comes to family. This cultural transmission is not genetic but epigenetic. While matching in marriage may be genetic, marriage itself is a culturally learned process, and so is becoming a family. You learn the behaviors you see from your parents and pass them on. As long as this learning continues, family bonds endure. But if this learning stops, the transmission weakens after two or three generations. Values slowly fade away. That is why morality is not genetic, and it is epigenetic. It must be taught. If we do not teach values, family ties, and solidarity to our children, it will not be enough to say, ‘Our family has always been strong.’ In that case, we will not be able to hold our heads high.”
“Empathy education should be at the heart of the solution”
Tarhan emphasized that narcissism weakens the family structure and said that “We often blame external factors for problems within the family, but in reality, the issue starts from within. As the number of egocentric individuals increases and people who place themselves at the center of everything, and the family structure weakens. The biggest deficiency of narcissistic individuals is their lack of empathy. Therefore, empathy education must be placed at the very center of any solution. Empathy education allows a person to recognize the emotions and needs of others, contributing to the development of emotional literacy over time. What is most needed within a family is empathy. Put all evils in a room, and the key to the door is the lack of empathy. A person who lacks empathy is merciless, selfish, and self-serving. When such people multiply, destructive behaviors and malevolence increase in society. Another crucial issue is family democracy. There must be an environment where criticism is welcomed in the family. Freedom, participation, and pluralism are not just societal concepts; they should also be core dynamics of the family. Empathy and democratic communication are essential elements that both strengthen family bonds and nurture individuals in a healthy way.”
“Strong family bonds still exist in our society!”
Stressing the importance of justice and fairness within the family, Tarhan said: “Democracy begins in the family. If we can apply it within the family, a sense of justice develops in individuals, and this reflects in all areas of life. The story of Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) is often read from his perspective. However, if we look at it from the perspective of Prophet Jacob (Yaqub), we see that his deep love for Joseph causes jealousy among the other brothers, which eventually leads to Joseph being thrown into a well. This reveals an injustice in love, that is, a lack of balance. It teaches us that emotional justice in a family is extremely important. Because where there is justice, there is trust; and where there is trust, there is peace. What must be emphasized here is not just equality but fairness and justice. The version of equality presented by capitalism often ends up with everyone being equally poor. Similar outcomes are seen in socialism. What aligns more closely with human nature is a fair and equitable system. If we can cultivate these values within the family, children grow up as healthy individuals. They do not disconnect from the family, they do not leave home at the first opportunity, and they develop greater resilience in life. There are still strong family ties in our society. Even if some of our roots have been cut, we can still stand tall. There is no need to be pessimistic. Government policies are also evolving in this direction and providing support. I would especially like to congratulate Boğaziçi University for implementing such a meaningful concept as the ‘Family University.’”
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)