Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that narcissistic personality disorder has become almost a global epidemic: “Narcissism is also damaging the structure of society. As this feeling rises, one of the fundamental bonds that keep society alive, which is empathy, declines, and social solidarity disappears.”
ZİYNETİ KOCABIYIK – According to the World Health Organization’s 2025 Mental Health Report, more than one billion people worldwide are experiencing some form of mental health disorder, revealing that the global mental health “report card” is far from encouraging.
Among many mental health issues, narcissistic personality disorder, which is defined as self-centered, self-important, and closed to criticism, has been rapidly increasing in recent years.
President of Üsküdar University Prof. Nevzat Tarhan explained, “The capitalist system has turned narcissistic personality disorder into an epidemic. The cause lies in the transformation of our life philosophy. To combat this, we must first correct ourselves and then our children.”
The narcissism epidemic
Prof. Tarhan described narcissists as people who see themselves as the center of the world, who are selfish, arrogant, unable to accept criticism and incapable of apologizing because they believe they never make mistakes. “For them, only praise and compliments exist. They consider anyone who criticizes them an enemy. Narcissism usually begins in adolescence or early adulthood and continues for many years. Everyone carries a narcissistic core inside them. This narcissistic part is the dark side, and it always says, ‘Me first.’ Pride is the hallmark of narcissism. In our culture, there is a saying: ‘If you locked all evil in a room, arrogance would open the door,’” he said.
We mature by living, not just aging
Emphasizing that those who think only of their own benefit are selfish, Prof. Tarhan said that every person has responsibilities toward their society, family, homeland, and Creator. “The purpose of life is not selfishness, pleasure-seeking, or narcissism,” he noted. “Mistakes are teachers, and criticism is a gift. Being open to criticism requires confidence and is a sign of maturity. A person does not mature by aging but by living.”
The parents’ role
Prof. Tarhan explained that family behavior during childhood plays a major role in shaping personality: “If a child does not learn empathy from their mother and father, they begin to focus only on themselves and withdraw inward. To protect themselves, they develop a grandiose self-image, which eventually makes them narcissistic.”
Contentment is the measure of gratitude
He emphasized that inner peace is linked to appreciating what one has and being content: “The measure of gratitude is contentment. A person who is content can find happiness in small things and is truly grateful. When you achieve this, you fulfill the true meaning of gratitude.”
Prof. Tarhan added, “The feeling of gratitude makes people feel good and leads them to inner peace. Being aware of the basic blessings you have when you wake up in the morning, keeping negative thoughts away, and finding joy in simple routines are the keys to serenity.”
As selfishness grows, social unity weakens
The spread of narcissism can severely damage a society’s social fabric, solidarity, and moral balance. One of the key bonds that hold societies together is empathy, that is, the ability to put oneself in another’s place. As narcissistic tendencies strengthen, people become desensitized to others’ pain, problems, and rights. This erodes social solidarity and normalizes the mindset of “everyone for themselves.”
How can we heal the narcissism within us?
Prof. Tarhan explained, “Every one of us carries a narcissistic tendency, and it lasts a lifetime. If someone says, ‘I’m cured, I’m not narcissistic anymore,’ they are blind, and they cannot see themselves any more than what’s right in front of their nose. If a person wants to overcome their narcissism, I have a simple prescription: practice silent kindness. Not publicly, not for show, but quietly, without anyone knowing. If a person can accept doing good in silence, they succeed. Narcissists feed on praise. However, if someone lives by the philosophy ‘let not your left hand know what your right hand gives,’ they take an important step toward disciplining their narcissism.”