President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan, participated in the “Conversations with Masters” program organized by Turkish Airlines Aviation Academy. Speaking under the theme “Human Beings in a Changing World,” Tarhan emphasized that although modern life has increased material prosperity, it has failed to ensure psychological well-being, leading to social decay and a rise in psychiatric cases. Tarhan also pointed out that artificial intelligence could have manipulative effects on individuals with weak self-control. He highlighted the importance of awareness and situational analysis in coping with anxiety and stress, while also making suggestions on issues such as spiritual emptiness, protecting family values, and maintaining healthy communication with adolescents. Tarhan further stated that people can achieve true happiness by transcending themselves and that focusing on long-term goals activates the serotonergic system.
The program, held at the Turkish Airlines Headquarters, attracted great interest from members of the THY family.
“Modernity sowed the wind but is reaping the whirlwind”
Psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated that human values are in decay and said: “When we look at global statistics now, incidents of violence, suicides, divorces, and depression are increasing. In other words, we can clearly see that psychological well-being has unfortunately not been achieved in parallel with material prosperity. Happiness measurements are being conducted, trends are being examined, and these trends show that social decay is taking place. So, why does this social decay exist? Why are psychiatric cases increasing? Why is violence increasing? Technology has come, life has become easier, but in parallel, there has been corruption and decay in human values. This has now become a serious area where science is trying to produce solutions. In other words, modernity has sown the wind, but it is reaping the whirlwind. We see that the outwardly glamorous structure of Western culture is rotting from within. We must also produce global solutions because this illness has infected us as well. For the past 10 years, we too have been rapidly experiencing social disintegration, both individually and socially. Life has become easier, faster, and more focused on pleasure. In addition, there are biological vulnerabilities within humans, present in all of us. For example, the pursuit of pleasure and dopamine is a biological weakness. The moment a person encounters dopamine, they lose control. What does this mean? It means addiction. It means a pleasure-oriented life. Modern humans have chosen to live dopamine-centered lives. Capitalist culture has taught this. Capitalist culture has constructed a global identity, and this identity tells us, ‘The purpose of life is pleasure. Everything is permissible to achieve pleasure.’ At this point, a pleasure-oriented life opens the door to psychological decay.”
Beware of artificial intelligence psychosis!
Answering a question about artificial intelligence, Tarhan noted that individuals lacking self-control are vulnerable to manipulation by AI. Tarhan said: “Opposing artificial intelligence is meaningless, even absurd, because AI is simply a technology. Technology itself is inherently neutral. If you use it for good purposes, it produces good results; if you use it for harmful purposes, it can ruin you. At present, especially among young people and those with fragile mental health, excessive immersion in artificial intelligence has begun to give rise to a condition we call artificial intelligence psychosis. It teaches hallucinations, it directs the individual. There are even cases of suicide, which have been published and entered into the literature. AI has become so sophisticated that if the person in front of it loses control, AI practically treats them like a child. Just as a mother manages her child, it directs them, says things they will enjoy, gives them thoughts to ponder, and steers their behavior. There are even examples where AI has caused individuals to divorce their spouses. This is extremely dangerous, yet most of the time we are unaware of it, because AI is attractive and draws people in. If a person lacks self-discipline and cannot regulate themselves internally, AI can very easily manipulate them.”
“The mentality of ‘if you are not brand-obsessed, you are worthless’ is spreading!”
Emphasizing that the capitalist system encourages consumption, Tarhan said: “Another aspect of the age of pleasure and speed is that it is also the age of consumption. Capitalist methodology does not seek to increase production through more production, but through more consumption. When consumption increases, competition also increases. Where there is competition, a global ‘holy trinity’ has been created through brand, status, and fame. The capitalist system presents this as an ego ideal and manipulates people in this way. Thus, brand obsession emerges. The mentality of ‘If you are not brand-obsessed, you are worthless’ is spreading. For this reason, a book titled The Narcissism Epidemic was published in America, because narcissism has become a global problem. The capitalist system says that in order to be hardworking and productive, you must be at the top. In an environment where seven people compete, it teaches that you must make it into the top three. As a result, while three out of ten succeed, seven are left unhappy. This system is not beneficial for human mental health. A system should be able to make at least 70–80 percent of society happy. But the capitalist doctrine is not like this. The capitalist system is structured to serve more power-oriented individuals. If we adopt this capitalist morality, we will become its victims.”
“Narcissism actually exists in every human being”
Drawing attention to the issue of narcissism, Tarhan emphasized that narcissism should be used correctly. Tarhan said: “This era has inflated the ego so much that people’s largest organ has become their ego. I once came across a saying of Imam Ghazali on this. They asked him, ‘What must a person do to be successful in this world?’ Ghazali said, ‘They must abandon arrogance.’ Then they asked, ‘What must a person do to be successful in the hereafter?’ and again he gave the same answer: ‘They must abandon arrogance.’ What we call arrogance is essentially narcissism: seeing one’s ego, oneself, as great, special, important, superior. A person who thinks this way closes themselves off to criticism and sees themselves as a god on earth. In psychoanalysis, this is called the feeling of omnipotence. Such a person feels like an all-powerful being who can do everything. They dominate their child, dominate those around them, and believe everyone is obliged to listen to them. This attitude causes people to make grave mistakes. This is especially the main reason leaders make mistakes. Every mother is a leader, every father is a leader, and everyone is the leader of their own life. Narcissism actually exists in every human being. It is an inner core present in human nature. It is like nuclear energy. If used correctly, it is beneficial. A person knows themselves, respects themselves, and has self-confidence. However, if they close themselves off to criticism, narcissism turns into pathology.”
“Even though our family values are shaken, we still manage to preserve them”
Expressing that the turmoil experienced in the family structure is safeguarded through cultural bonds, Tarhan said: “As a culture, even though our family values are shaken, we still manage to preserve them. A Western sociologist conducted a family study in Türkiye, examining whether families are nuclear or extended. However, he saw that the family in Türkiye fits neither the concept of the nuclear family nor the extended family. In an apartment building, everyone lives like a nuclear family, but the whole apartment consists of relatives. Even if no outsiders come in, kinship ties are formed in many ways. The sociologist even said, ‘Türkiye has become a confederation of nuclear families.’ In other words, we have created our own intermediate solution. An example can also be given through music. While Arabesque music was not widespread in the Ottoman period, why did it spread so widely in the Republican era? Because in Türkiye, folk music and Turkish classical music were banned until the 1950s. When they were banned, the people began listening to Arab music on the radio, and over time that music became cultural. Music that once existed only in Urfa transformed into the general music of Türkiye. In other words, repression feeds its opposite. The same is true in families. The more pressure placed on a child, the more the child moves in the opposite direction. Authoritarian and totalitarian methods in family relationships give birth to their opposites. This must be understood. A similar situation exists on the cultural level as well. We are currently experiencing a disruption in the family structure, but our cultural codes are still preserved.”
“One of the illnesses of this age is spiritual emptiness…”
Stating that a person can attain true happiness when they transcend themselves, Tarhan said: “One of the illnesses of this age is spiritual emptiness. Aristotle divided happiness into two categories. Maslow later added a third dimension. The first is hedonic happiness, the second is meaning-based happiness, and the third is transcendental happiness, that is, the happiness of self-transcendence. If a person transcends themselves, they achieve ideal happiness. For example, attributing meaning to music or art, or pursuing meaning in life makes a person happy. However, a person must also explain death and what comes after death. At the top of Maslow’s hierarchy of psychosocial needs was originally self-actualization. Later, however, Maslow added self-transcendence above it. A person who can transcend themselves is one who can help others. The word ‘spiritual’ in Arabic means ‘related to meaning.’ In essence, it is attributing meaning to the work being done, to life, and to existence. If one does not ascribe meaning to the question, ‘Why do I exist in this world?’ they become lost. Because no living being other than humans seeks meaning. Young people are asking these questions, they are questioning. When we synthesize religion and science for them, we can show them the truth. Because the positive sciences and religious sciences are two branches of the same truth. They are not rivals but complements to each other.”
“Work done with a sense of flow ceases to be a burden”
Highlighting that stress levels decrease where teamwork exists, Tarhan said: “Career pressure is one of the most common forms of group stress, especially in workplaces. Due to the cycle of ‘Produce, earn, consume’ imposed by the capitalist system, the mentality of ‘The more you produce, the more valuable you are’ has emerged. In fact, the measure of value has started to be shaped by how much you consume. This increases career pressure. In consultancy services, the most important factor at this point is leadership. If leadership is strong and has an embracing approach, one-on-one communication can be established, and people can talk instead of bottling up their problems. When this happens, solutions become easier. In institutions where teamwork exists, stress decreases at both the group and institutional levels. On an individual level, if a person enjoys the work they do, they do not experience stress. If they do their work with a sense of flow, which means they lose track of time while being absorbed in it, then that work ceases to be a burden.”
“A person who can focus on long-term goals activates the serotonergic system”
Drawing attention to the importance of the ability to delay gratification, Tarhan said: “There are two types of meaning in life: material meanings and spiritual meanings. Concrete meaning is related to needs and desires such as having a house or a car. However, art, music, or academic success are also forms of meaning. For example, a student preparing for a university exam undergoes a process that is pleasure-oriented, yet it provides them with the ability to delay gratification for the future. Delaying gratification means being able to think about future rewards. A person who can reject short-term pleasure and focus on long-term goals activates the serotonergic system in the brain. In this way, the pleasure obtained becomes more permanent and sustainable. Immediate pleasure is related to dopamine. For example, when a child wants chocolate, if the mother gives it immediately, the child is satisfied with instant dopamine. However, this prevents the child from developing patience. If the mother says, ‘First finish your homework, then you will get the chocolate,’ the child, while studying, thinks about the future reward. This strengthens the serotonergic system and increases the child’s ability to wait for a reward.”
“In conflicts with adolescents, it is the adults who lose”
Answering questions from the participants, Tarhan emphasized the importance of establishing good communication with adolescents. Tarhan said: “Having an adolescent child is truly a great test. Generation Z adolescents tend to be egocentric, comfort-seeking, and eager to try many things. They question everything. If we build a good relationship with them, if we make the home a safe space and a place they love, even if they make mistakes, they will return home. In the adolescent problems we most frequently encounter, when there are mother-child or father-child conflicts, it is usually the adults who lose. A person who goes to war with their child will lose that war. That is why we must not wage war with our children, or even with our spouse; instead, we must be companions with them on the road of life. Instead of preaching or lecturing our child, we must set a good example. Instead of giving orders and commands, we should offer choices. For instance, instead of saying, ‘Take this T-shirt and wear it!’ we should lay out four or five T-shirts and ask them to choose the one that appeals most to them. We should say, ‘Pick whichever you want.’ By doing this, the child will experience the feeling of ‘I did it,’ satisfying their sense of autonomy. At the same time, the parents will not lose control. By using simple methods like these, do not enter into ego wars because you will lose.”
After the talk, Tarhan also signed his books for the audience
President of Üsküdar University, Psychiatrist, and Author Prof. Nevzat Tarhan signed the works he has written for the participants following the conversation. The book-signing ceremony, held in a warm and sincere atmosphere, witnessed colorful moments.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)