The 'Üsküdar Benevolence and Malignity Scale' was developed, allowing us to psychometrically measure which of our benevolent or malevolent forces are dominant when making decisions in the face of an event, situation, or person, as well as our benevolent/malevolent attitudes and perceptions. A thousand and twenty-three people aged between 15 and 69 across the country participated in the “Benevolence and Malignity Scale” developed by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal. In the scale, where the lowest score is '0' and the highest is '140', Turkey remained below the threshold score in the use of benevolent forces.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that as a result of measuring benevolent and malevolent forces in two dimensions, goal-oriented and process-oriented, it was concluded that our benevolent forces need to be reinforced. Ünal emphasized that spending more than 4 hours a day on social media suppresses benevolent attitudes and behaviors, warning against excessive social media use. Noting that TikTok is a platform where lack of control is most widespread, Ünal said, “While social media users' scores exceeded 80, TikTok users scored only 60 on the scale, falling below the average.”
More than 4 hours of social media use reduces benevolence!
The 'Üsküdar Benevolence and Malignity Scale' was developed, enabling us to psychometrically measure which of our benevolent or malevolent forces are dominant when making decisions in the face of an event, situation, or person, as well as our benevolent/malevolent attitudes and perceptions. The scale, for which validity and reliability studies were conducted by Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty Member Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal, aims to measure benevolent and malevolent attitudes and perceptions.
1,023 People Participated in the Scale Nationwide
According to the initial results of the scale, which was administered online to 1,023 people aged between 15 and 69 across Turkey, the average score was determined to be 84. The lowest score obtainable from the scale is '0', and the highest is '140'. In the initial application of the scale, the conclusion reached was 'You have entered a positive path, reinforcement of behavior is needed'. According to the scale, a score of 106 and above indicates that benevolent forces are fully utilized and peace is achieved. It was understood that Turkey remained below the threshold score in the use of benevolent forces. Thus, the importance of disseminating education on positive psychology skills and principles was once again highlighted.
Our Benevolent Forces Must Be Reinforced
As a result of measuring benevolent and malevolent forces in two dimensions, goal-oriented and process-oriented, it was concluded that our benevolent forces need to be reinforced. Our goal-oriented benevolent forces include honesty, reliability, accountability, seeking refuge in a transcendent power, empathy, unconditional love, and the ability to do good. Process-oriented benevolent forces are expressed as patience and endurance, virtue, and concern for fair and equitable sharing.
Excessive Social Media Use Reduces Benevolence
765 women (74.4%) and 258 men (25.1%) participated in the study. No difference was observed based on gender in the examinations, but it was revealed that our perceptions of benevolence and malevolence differed according to daily social media use. According to the analyses, a difference was found between those who use social media less than 1 hour a day and those who use it for 4-6 hours and more than 7 hours. As daily social media use increases, 'benevolence' perceptions and attitudes decrease. The benevolence scores of those who use social media less than 1 hour differ significantly in a positive direction.
TikTok Users Fell Below Average
In a comparison based on social media applications, TikTok users received the lowest score on the scale. Analyses showed that the scores of TikTok users on the scale significantly differed from those of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn users. While other social media users' scores exceeded 80, TikTok users scored only 60 on the scale, remaining below the average. TikTok users were evaluated as 'Awareness of malevolence has formed but they are below average'.
Social Media Creates Emotional Lack of Control
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that analysis results observed that spending more than 4 hours a day on social media suppresses benevolent attitudes and behaviors. “This situation can be explained by the activation of disinhibition, which is the tendency to go to extremes in emotions and behaviors such as excessive anger, excessive happiness, and excessive sensitivity. The free and uncontrolled nature of social media eventually leads individuals to excess and emotional lack of control. Consequently, when individuals cannot suppress their malevolent forces, they can become part of a chain of malicious posts aimed at disregarding individuals and institutions from society, which we refer to as the lynching/cancel culture,” she said.
TikTok: The Platform Where Lack of Control Is Most Widespread!
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that TikTok users, in particular, spend more than 1 hour a day preparing and sharing social media videos and following the interactions they receive, adding: “Therefore, TikTok emerges as the social media platform where disinhibition, or lack of control, is most observed. TikTok users filming videos with extreme emotions and their decreased emotional control suppress benevolent attitudes and behaviors. TikTok spreads the effect of disinhibition by suddenly breaking away from the entirety of social rules and moral behaviors and serving excessively uncontrolled videos. In those who cannot nourish their emotions with benevolent forces, malevolence eventually manifests itself. The spread rate of negative emotions and malevolence through short videos is 5 times faster than positive ones. Awareness of malevolence has formed among TikTok users, but they are below average.”
Excessive Social Media Use Should Be Avoided
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal stated that, as seen in the research, social media use of less than 1 hour a day supports our benevolent forces. “Therefore, while meeting our needs such as following the agenda, sharing useful content, and socializing on social media, which has become a part of our lives, we must pay attention to the 4-hour limit and avoid excess. This also means incorporating social media literacy skills. Although it is understood that we have embarked on the path of benevolence, it should not be forgotten that our benevolent attitudes and behaviors need to be reinforced,” she said.
The Scale Was Prepared in Accordance with Positive Psychology Principles
The Üsküdar Benevolence and Malignity Scale (ÜSİYKÖ), developed by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Aylin Tutgun Ünal, was prepared in accordance with positive psychology principles and consists of 35 items and 2 dimensions. The first dimension is called 'Goal-Oriented' and measures honesty, reliability, accountability, seeking refuge in a transcendent power, empathy, unconditional love, and the ability to do good. The second dimension is called 'Process-Oriented' and measures patience, endurance, virtue, and concern for fair and equitable sharing.
The scale is a valid and reliable 5-point Likert-type scale, rated as 'I do not accept', 'I accept', 'I accept but I cannot do it, I feel regret', 'I believe and apply with a sense of responsibility by planning', and 'I always believe and apply with love'.
You can test yourself with the Üsküdar Benevolence and Malignity Scale (ÜSİYKÖ).
Rate each statement by evaluating its suitability to the situation. (I do not accept='0'; I accept='1'; I accept but I cannot do it, I feel regret='2'; I believe and apply with a sense of responsibility by planning='3'; I always believe and apply with love='4').
NOTE: Items 6, 11, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 24, 27, 30, 31, 33, 35 should be reverse coded ('0' instead of '4'; '1' instead of '3'; '3' instead of '1').
- Honesty and keeping one's word are indispensable principles under all circumstances.
- Lying is a common characteristic of bad people; I detest it.
- Even if it goes against our interests, what is right should be done.
- The sense of responsibility and accountability is the most important principle in our lives.
- I have to be accountable to my family and relatives.
- Our only measure of belief is our personal interest; this is how it is in this era.
- The most sacred values should not be money, status, or fame.
- The statement 'Regardless of the circumstances, my priority is my own interest' is wrong.
- The thought 'Being moral is good but not valid in this era' is a modern misconception.
- The thought 'Living without accountability is comfort' prepares the end of humanity; hidden evils increase.
- In this era, we have to be selfish and live in luxury.
- We will be accountable to the Creator who knows and controls everything; we must not forget this.
- A true believer knows the meaning of death; their words and actions are consistent.
- In my weak, helpless, and powerless times, I resort to spirituality and practice it.
- Enduring hardships and struggles for our ideals is not right for this era; my comfort comes first.
- Asceticism is an old notion; one only lives once.
- I make great efforts to be patient and tolerant.
- Unconditional, selfless love, compassion, and kindness are pleasant, but people like that are used in this era; your priority should be yourself.
- Modesty and humility damage self-confidence; in this era, the strong have their way.
- Life is a struggle; being strong is more important than being virtuous.
- Life is about cooperation; being generous is a high value and should be done frequently.
- Giving things you don't need to those in need is a virtue; it should be practiced frequently.
- One should try to be happy with small things.
- Resorting to deceptive methods to achieve a goal is not right, but it is often necessary nowadays.
- One should not do to others what one does not want done to oneself.
- Having good intentions and making a good effort brings both success and happiness.
- Fair sharing is a good thing, but it's not possible in this era.
- Forcing one's opinion, trying to change everyone, is not a correct or appropriate method.
- Saying 'my right first, then justice' is a misconception of the age; I pay attention to this, I say 'justice first'.
- A person's wealth is not in possessions, property, or money, but in their character; however, character doesn't fill one's stomach.
- Earning by the sweat of one's brow is good, but it's not the method of this era.
- It is necessary to forgive someone who has wronged you or accept the situation as it is and look forward.
- Revenge is often necessary.
- I want to do good without expecting anything in return, but I know it's difficult.
- The view 'What did I get for doing good, feed the crow and it will peck out your eyes' is, I think, very true.
Evaluation: Scores between 0 and 140 can be obtained from the scale.
0-35: Malevolence is dominant, moral blindness has become normalized
36-70: Awareness of malevolence has formed, but you are below average
71-105: You have entered a positive path; reinforcement of behavior is needed
106-140: You are using your benevolent forces above average; you have achieved peace. Remember, every event is a new test for you.