Prof. Tarhan: “If aesthetic value becomes the measure of self-worth, the next step is depression”
Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained that there is a global propaganda effort glorifying beauty and that the idea of “if you are beautiful, you are valuable” is rapidly gaining ground. He stated, “However, self-worth is not limited to physical appearance. Physical appearance contributes perhaps only one tenth to a person's value. The rest comes from how the person speaks, their posture, behavior, and the human qualities that distinguish them from other living beings.”
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the perception of beauty has become one of the most powerful arguments of the consumption economy. He added, “It is the youth who pay the highest price for this situation. Especially adolescent girls and boys are becoming victims of this system. If aesthetic worth becomes the measure of value, the next step is depression.” Prof. Tarhan stated, “Türkiye ranks seventh in the world for cosmetic surgery rates. This is a striking fact. It is very contradictory to our cultural values and codes that a country which does not make the top seven in many other areas is among the top in aesthetics.”
President of Üsküdar University and Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan assessed the issue of obsession with beauty.
The left brain is logical, while the right brain is emotionally and aesthetically dominant
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that the concern with beauty is not only psychological or social, but also has a biological dimension. He stated, “Biologically speaking, the functioning of male and female brains is different. The left hemisphere of the brain is associated with functions such as logic, reasoning, analysis, speech, and calculation, and is therefore referred to as the masculine brain. The right hemisphere is associated with emotions, excitement, music, art, and aesthetics, and is referred to as the feminine brain. The left brain has a logical structure, while the right brain is dominant in emotional and aesthetic aspects. This distinction is based on biological and genetic foundations. The front region of the brain, the frontal lobe, establishes balance between the two hemispheres and shapes individual behavior. These structural differences lead to variations in priorities and behavior patterns between men and women. In the female brain, aesthetic perception and emotional evaluation may be more dominant, while in the male brain, logic and analytical thinking tend to be more prominent.”
The female brain tends to prioritize physical appearance
Prof. Tarhan explained that the root of beauty perception lies in biologically based differences and that male and female brains function differently. He said, “These differences result in gender-based variations in the importance placed on physical appearance. The female brain tends to prioritize physical appearance. The psychological needs of men and women also differ. The primary psychological need of the male brain is to seek physical attractiveness in the opposite sex. The female brain, on the other hand, focuses on needs such as emotional closeness and alleviation of loneliness. This difference is an algorithm programmed into the genetic structure of human beings.”
Women, children, and youth are the primary targets to accelerate consumption cycles
Prof. Tarhan stated that in order to accelerate the wheels of the consumption economy, women, children, and young people are targeted, and that the concepts of hedonism and utilitarianism are promoted above actual needs. He added, “Capitalist culture has created a sacred ideal based on physical appearance. Full lips and slim waists have been idealized for women; tattoos and muscular bodies for men. While women are targeted through makeup and fashion, men become part of the consumption cycle through products that serve as status symbols.”
It is the youth who pay the highest price
Prof. Tarhan emphasized again that a global propaganda effort glorifying beauty is underway, and that the belief “if you are beautiful, you are valuable” is becoming widespread. He continued: “However, self-worth is not limited to physical appearance. Physical appearance contributes perhaps one tenth to a person’s value. The remainder consists of how the person speaks, stands, behaves, and the human qualities that distinguish them from other living beings. But the capitalist system disregards these features, exaggerating only one aspect to generate more profit. This mindset objectifies and devalues human beings. As a result, beauty has become one of the most influential tools of the consumption economy. The youth, especially adolescent girls and boys, are the ones who pay the highest price. If aesthetic value becomes the measure of worth, the next step is depression. This has always been a tendency in human nature throughout history, but today it has reached pathological levels. There is a disorder called dysmorphophobia, known as the fear of being ugly. Although it used to be rare, there has been a significant increase in the past ten to twenty years. Now we are seeing clinical cases requiring hospitalization. For example, some patients diagnosed with dysmorphophobia cry in front of the mirror for an hour and a half. They do not like their appearance and express a desire to die. Some have been brought to the hospital at the last moment by their families. These individuals prioritize the concept of beauty over reality and suffer from severe thought disorders.”
The number of cases related to eating disorders is also increasing globally
Prof. Tarhan stated that a similar pattern is observed in eating disorders. He said, “An individual who has dropped to twenty nine kilograms still perceives themselves as overweight. They struggle to stand, cannot lift their head, and experience amenorrhea. Yet despite this, they perceive themselves in the mirror as if they weigh one hundred and fifty kilograms. There is serious dysfunction in the brain areas responsible for aesthetic perception and body image. These individuals are not imagining it; they truly feel that way. Because it is a disorder. Of course, these are extreme cases. However, the number of such cases is increasing globally.”
Shopping driven by the need for approval and validation
Prof. Tarhan also stated that today a mindset of “I am visible, therefore I exist” dominates, and that literature and popular culture refer to this era as the “Polished Image Era.” He continued: “Today, image has been transformed into a sacred value in the context of self-branding and self-display. Human beings want to be accepted in social relationships. People desire to be appreciated, liked, and approved. Research shows that people do not shop merely based on cost benefit analysis. They make purchases driven by the desire to be appreciated and validated. Sometimes they spend large amounts of money on items they do not even need. The capitalist system increases consumption by exploiting human weaknesses, extracting more money from those who have it, and indebting those who do not in order to push them toward cosmetic surgeries. According to a study conducted among university students in Türkiye, ten percent of students have had cosmetic surgery. The most common procedures include lip fillers, facial fillers, and breast enlargement surgeries. Among men, the rate of getting tattoos exceeds ten percent. This indicates that the over-glorification of physical appearance damages human relationships. Ultimately, superficial relationships are becoming widespread. However, lasting and sustainable relationships are born out of depth. Physical appearance is like the shell of a walnut; it is packaging. What truly matters is the core, the content. That is one's character and spiritual beauty. Neglecting these inner values and sanctifying only physical appearance is a serious problem for humanity. A false reality is being constructed. This hyperreality, created to sell more products and increase consumption, functions by exploiting human weaknesses. It is called ‘voluntary imperialism.’ Even though we have no need for them, our closets are overflowing with clothes. All of this is a result of sanctifying physical appearance.”
Self-admiration is being confused with self-confidence
Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that consumer culture exploits the fundamental tendencies of human beings and continued as follows: “In order for an individual to feel well, it is necessary to be at peace with oneself in three fundamental areas: physical appearance, psychological structure, and social status. For this to happen, the individual must first establish healthy communication with oneself. However, our perceptions can easily be altered by environmental influence. Social media also guides these perceptions. There is a common mistake made here. Self-admiration is being confused with self-confidence. Self-admiration is when a person is infatuated with themselves, constantly praises themselves, and ignores their flaws. This is a feature of narcissism. Self-confidence, on the other hand, means being aware of both strengths and weaknesses, but focusing on positive qualities to navigate life. A self-confident person accepts their shortcomings and loves themselves as they are. This is not a genetic trait but a socially learned skill. Family, environment, and upbringing style are very important at this point. A self-confident individual is at peace with their weight and physical appearance. What matters is being well-groomed and avoiding exaggeration. After all, exaggeration is a form of lying. It is not real. We see that displays are full, but hearts are empty. Outer appearance is glorified, but behind it are fake smiles, fake friendships, and fake relationships. This is why psychiatric cases, suicide rates, crime, and violence are increasing. People are being driven into a lifestyle that does not align with their psychological nature.”
There are differences between men and women in the drive to look physically attractive
Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that there are certain differences between men and women in terms of the desire to appear physically attractive. He noted, “These differences are also shaped culturally. Individuals are coded in this regard by the culture they live in. Especially in Northern European countries, there is a new transformation taking place in male-female relations. There is a tendency for women to display more masculine traits and for men to exhibit more feminine traits. This situation is reflected in both clothing preferences and physical appearance, especially with the global rise of unisex orientations.” Prof. Tarhan stated that certain feminist approaches, because they perceive men as a threat or rivals, may lead women to adopt more masculine behaviors. He continued, “To avoid being oppressed, women may reject feminine roles. Over time, this turns into behavior that de-emphasizes or neutralizes physical appearance. Particularly in Western culture, and more specifically in Northern Europe, a significant cultural change is taking place.”
American-style capitalism is influential in Türkiye
Prof. Tarhan stated, “Türkiye has been ranked seventh in the world in terms of cosmetic surgery rates. This is a truly remarkable situation. It is very contradictory to our cultural values and codes that a country which does not make it into the top seven in many other fields ranks so high in aesthetics. At this point, it is possible to say that American-style capitalism is influential in Türkiye.”
A female figure who dresses and behaves like a man is being glorified
Prof. Tarhan pointed out that the mindset of “Why should we marry?” has become widespread in Northern European countries and said, “The emergence of women as strong and independent figures is not new in history. There have been periods throughout history where women organized among themselves and created a powerful subculture, as in the case of Amazon women. A similar cultural transformation is occurring today, and in this transformation, the Amazon-type woman is being glorified. A female figure who dresses like a man, behaves like a man, and can react harshly when necessary is being promoted.”
A propaganda campaign saying 'you must look beautiful' is being conducted
Prof. Tarhan noted that beauty standards today are being shaped through specific direction and influence. He stated, “As a result of the dominance of consumer brands, the urge to appear beautiful is being systematically encouraged. It is as if there is a propaganda campaign saying ‘you must look beautiful.’”
Excessive narcissistic investment in physical appearance
Prof. Tarhan emphasized that when individuals make excessive narcissistic investments in their physical appearance, they become more vulnerable to criticism. He added that while physical appearance is undoubtedly important, it should not be placed at the center of life because the body can change over time. Therefore, individuals should invest not in how they look, but in the development of character and the values that will leave a meaningful legacy in life.
Cosmetic procedures are spreading at the rate of an infectious disease
Prof. Tarhan stated that cosmetic procedures are spreading almost like an infectious disease. “Social media plays a provocative and triggering role in this issue. The excessive glorification of physical appearance has a particularly negative impact on young girls. This is not unique to Türkiye; it is a global process affecting the entire world. There is pressure to be young, to look beautiful, to dress the best, and to live the best life. Physical appearance is also important for men, and they may strive to gain acceptance through financial or physical strength. Being muscular, having defined abdominal muscles, are goals that are being sanctified. The transformation of physical appearance into a measure of self-worth is the disease of this age. The idea that the beautiful are valuable and the not beautiful are worthless is extremely misleading. A mindset has developed where what is admired is considered right, and what is not admired is considered wrong. This leads to an increase in psychological disorders. Anything in excess is harmful. Excessive love, excessive obsession with physical appearance, excessive talking , all are poisons. Therefore, it is very important to establish balance. Children must be given balanced messages regarding physical appearance,” he concluded.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)