Recently, the Western origin of names chosen for children has drawn attention. This change in name choices can lead to social decay. Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan addressed the topic of 'psikolojik savaş' (psychological warfare), explaining the individual and societal effects of name changes.
Evaluating the names preferred for the new generation, Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stated that there has been a significant increase in the choice of Western-origin names in recent years.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that changes in name selection are related to cultural belonging and explained, “If a person feels they belong to Western culture, they will choose names accordingly.”
Name preferences have a protest aspect
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan reminded that in the past, registry offices did not allow names from different languages, stating, “I vividly recall, in the Southeast, a person from Diyarbakır wanted to name their child in Kurdish in the 1980s. But the registry office wouldn't allow it. So, they went and named him Mahir. As you know, due to Mahir of March 12th, it was a protest name.”
Tarhan pointed out that name choices have a protest aspect, stating, “Especially names reminiscent of Christian culture were never given, and their recent use is, in my opinion, a protest reaction.” Speaking about the preference for names like “John” in Turkey, Tarhan indicated that these are names of significant figures in Christianity.
Recalling the situation where politicians' names are preferred after certain political events, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the effects of internal dynamics can be reflected in this way and added, “In this era, a situation has emerged that questions all cultural and religious values.”
Prof. Tarhan stated that the name given to a person is also a definition, saying, “Whatever label is given, the person makes perceptions related to that label,” conveying that a person’s name can influence their position in society and close relationships.
One cannot be universal without being local
Emphasizing that names have a significant psychological impact, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that they are effective in shaping a person's inner world, personality, and belief systems, as well as cultural frameworks. Tarhan explained that names are merely the visible aspect of this issue, and the real situation is the way of life, adding the following explanation: “If you go to Northern Europe, the culture and moral understanding there are not the same as ours. When a child carries such a name, they will be perceived as non-Muslim; a communication network will form accordingly, and the person will enter into a definition and meaning based on that.”
Speaking about parents who do not teach religion and culture to their children, Tarhan said, “It is a disregard for the parents' guiding role,” and stated that parental responsibility extends until the age of 15, conveying that one should not expect a child to spontaneously discover the truth.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, referring to emotional brain studies, stated, “When truths and values are not taught to a child at a young age, emotional and value-related patterns do not form in their brain,” and added, “One cannot be universal without being local. If you cannot teach children local values, that child will not be universal. When you do not teach a child about their own life and goals, that child becomes one who serves the lives and goals of others.”
Cultural psychological warfare is a long-term operation
Using the words, “We cannot protect our freedom without protecting our cultural identity,” Tarhan emphasized the state of psychological warfare with the statement, “One of the methods in psychological warfare is cultural psychological warfare.” Tarhan stressed that there are two distinct methods to capture a society in the medium and long term: the short-term one is a political operation, and the long-term one is changing the culture of society. Tarhan also noted that centers of power present their own cultures as strong, stating the following:
“Individuals and societies with low self-confidence, unable to stand on their own identity, emulate other identities and imitate them. People born in Anatolian lands who give these names are individuals with low self-confidence. They are people who view their own culture as inferior or lowly.”
We must make peace with our own culture
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, stating, “There is no other community hostile to its own culture than us,” conveyed that children have come to hate their own culture and that everyone should clean their own doorstep against 'cultural decay,' concluding his words with the following statement:
“We must make peace with our own culture. We need to modernize while preserving our own cultural values. We cannot be universal without being local.”