Prof. Nevzat Tarhan: “Empathy and forgiveness increase in Ramadan”
Stating that an individual is subject to self-control during Ramadan, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that Ramadan has the most protective effect on people from making mistakes. Tarhan said, “In this defense effect, it is undeniable that a person comes to terms with one's own soul and comes to terms with their own desires and impulses. In Ramadan, a person undergoes self-examination. A person controls themselves. They ask themselves ‘Where did I go wrong?’ They apply stop, think, reevaluate method. A person takes a break from the things they do automatically.” Prof. Tarhan pointed out that people's sense of empathy and forgiveness increase during Ramadan.
President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan evaluated the effects of Ramadan on emotions and anger management.
Stating that the meaning of Ramadan fasting is not only about eating, but also about reconsidering emotions and behaviors, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “There is something that is always said: while fasting, it is said that not only our stomach, but also our eyes, ears and all our organs should fast. If a fast like this is achieved, it is a fasting in accordance with the divine goal of Ramadan.”.
How does Ramadan affect self-perception?
Referring to scientific studies on how Ramadan affects people's emotions in particular, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that there is a decrease in negative self-perception, especially in Ramadan. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said the following statements:
“In the studies carried out by Çanakkale and Pamukkale Universities, the effect of Ramadan fasting on positive self-perception, its effect on the feeling of hostility, and its effect on anger management were investigated. These were examined one by one and scientifically studied. Studies have been carried out on groups of men and women who fast during Ramadan and those who fast willingly in other periods rather than Ramadan. Pre-tests and post-tests are done. At the beginning and towards the end of Ramadan, tests are done again and it is determined that there is a decrease in negative self-perception. Negative self-perception means that people with low self-esteem see themselves as worthless and in a negative way. Moreover, changes in the feeling of being hostile are measured. In a study by Pamukkale University, there was a decrease in these two emotions in Ramadan in both men and women. This is a very important thing. In the negative self-perception, the person does not value themselves, especially we look at most of these people, they do not have forgiveness, there is mercilessness, they do not forgive. When it comes to Ramadan, empathy and forgiveness increase. When these feelings increase, a mental burden is lifted, the burden is lifted. When this happens, the person who feels bad all the time starts to feel good.”.
Cells regenerate when the body is hungry
Noting that fasting has neurobiological effects as well as biological effects, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “In 2016, a Japanese scientist received the Nobel Prize for discovering autophagy. The diet system in autophagy has changed, a system called intermittent fasting is now being implemented globally. The person does not eat at certain hours. Cell scientists, cytologists have determined that when the body is starving, the cell itself starts autophagy, that is, it converts the proteins it does not use and some parts that it does not use into energy. When you run out of wood at home, you burn other things, so like that, the body renews its own cells. In fact, studies reveal that even damages in DNA are repaired.”.
Noting that hunger regenerates cells in humans, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said that “They put the flower that does not bloom in the dark to make it bloom. When the flower stays in the dark for three days without any light, it says, ‘Oh, I am in danger,’ and begins to bloom. When we put people under the stress of hunger, our body renews its cells. This is also the most important cancer-fighting method. What causes cancer? Uncontrolled reproduction occurs in cancer, DNA deteriorates. Since the order renews itself in hunger stress, the body repairs DNA damage. For all these reasons, the month of Ramadan has such a biological benefit in this respect.”.
Anger management increases in fasting people!
Expressing that although there are claims that the feeling of anger increases in Ramadan, the situation is actually the opposite. Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Measurements are made according to the anger management scale in the studies. In the month of Ramadan, expressing and reflection of anger and anger control are investigated. It has been determined that anger management is increased in those who fast during Ramadan. These tests are done at the beginning and towards the end of the Ramadan fast. It is done after 3-4 weeks. The first few days may take some adaptation. During the adaptation period, fasting becomes beneficial if a person fasts with faith. Fasting puts a person in distress if they do not believe, that is, they only fast for social reasons since they reluctantly facts because of what other people will say. The brain does not help when you fast unwillingly. There is consciousness on our brain. We use our free will above consciousness and command our brain to 'Control hunger'. In Ramadan, you no longer feel the search for food. For the first few days, that feeling is there, then the body gets used to it. By saying, ‘I'm going to eat dinner now’, we condition the brain. When a person believes, one changes the program in the brain. This is also internal control, not external control. External control is an external discipline under pressure from the immediate environment. Internal control is internal discipline. This is how the ideal discipline training and ideal will training that a person does with faith.”.
Peace is different from happiness
Noting that belief makes a person peaceful, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “There is something that believing provides. The most important need of human is peace. Peace is different from happiness. Happiness is generally understood as happiness for external reasons in Western culture. It is like in the sense of ‘Wear this and be happy, buy this and be happy, eat this and be happy’. On the other hand, being happy for internal reasons, being happy with the little things you have, thinking about the working organs instead of the non-working organs or being happy with a tea you drink also make a person peaceful.”.
In Ramadan, a person puts themselves under self-control
Stating that an individual is subject to self-control during Ramadan, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said, “Ramadan has the most protective effect on people from making mistakes. It is undeniable that this defensive effect enables a person to come to terms with one's own soul, to come to terms with one's own desires and impulses. In therapy, therapists try to be a mirror to the person. It mirrors the person and looks at factors such as their strengths and weaknesses, problem solving style, and stress management style. According to this, a therapist is trying to guide the person. In Ramadan, a person undergoes self-examination. They put themselves under self-examination they think as ‘Where did I go wrong? They apply stop, think, reevaluate for themselves. They take a break from the things it they do automatically.”.
Ramadan provides you with delay of gratification
Noting that this is also a person's self-revision, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan said: "If a person mentally renews themselves and asks questions such as 'Where did I go wrong, who did I hurt so far, I should be more optimistic towards people, I should appreciate the things I have'. Patience and endurance are important at this point. Ramadan makes you delay gratification. It makes compulsory delay of gratifications. There is a delay of gratification module. Especially adolescent children fall into pleasure traps because they do not have the ability to delay gratification. They want something they like to happen right away. The human brain says 'right now'. However, you will learn in childhood and youth, you will live in the present.
Adulthood indicates spiritual maturity. A person with spiritual maturity has the maturity to delay gratification. A person with the maturity to delay gratification has the ability to manage stress. That person learns something from stress and becomes their normal self again after stress. A person who is intolerant to stress loses their self-strength. They perform marshmallow test on the children in the kindergarten. They give more marshmallows to those who manage to wait 15 minutes. They immediately give one to anyone who wants it. Twenty years later, they measure the same people again. People with the ability to delay gratification have a 20 percent higher emotional intelligence. They are more balanced in their relationship with the opposite sex. Not only academic success, but also social and emotional skills are more developed.”.