President of Üsküdar University and psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in the 3rd Sakarya Guidance and Psychological Counseling Days organized by the Sakarya Governorship and Sakarya Provincial Directorate of National Education. Meeting with educators under the theme “Adolescent Problems,” Tarhan drew attention to the behaviors that may be exhibited by young people during adolescence. He emphasized that the real danger lies in lack of communication, noting that a child who does not express problems outwardly may also be at risk.
Stating that contradictory and questioning behavior during adolescence is a sign of healthy development, Tarhan warned that “A silent, overly compliant teenager carries the risk of an emotional explosion in the future.”
The talk was held at the conference hall of Sakarya Serdivan Şehit Erol Olçok Anatolian High School. Important officials from the Sakarya Governorship and the Provincial Directorate of National Education attended the event, which also attracted significant interest from guidance counselors and psychological consultants.
“Epigenetics is formed by the effect of environmental factors on genes”
Speaking on the role of epigenetics in brain development, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that “Unlike other living beings, the human child is born psychologically premature. For example, a duckling can swim immediately after hatching, but a human child is different. A child is only able to stand at around age one and begins to distinguish between right and wrong around the age of fifteen. The human brain develops socially and emotionally through learning from its environment. While approximately 30–40 percent of brain development is shaped by genetics, 60–70 percent is shaped by epigenetic influences. Epigenetics refers to the effects of environmental factors on genes. When a thought or idea comes to mind and we associate it with emotion, it turns into a belief. If that belief is repeated, it becomes a skill. If it continues to be repeated, within about six months it becomes part of one’s personality and character. Once a character is formed, the brain begins to produce proteins in accordance with that character. The cells make this process automatic, and the behavior becomes habitual. Behavior is thus shaped through conditioning and learned through repetition. Our brains go through two periods of intense learning: between ages 0–4 and 12–15. Just like all flowers blooming at once in spring, the brain experiences a synaptic explosion during these periods. Connections form rapidly, and then they are pruned, that is, much like a sculptor shaping a statue. During this pruning phase, communication within the family and with the environment is of vital importance.”
“A silent, obedient teenager carries the risk of an emotional explosion”
Describing the behaviors that can occur during adolescence, Tarhan stated:
“Adolescence is a new developmental stage, distinct from childhood. Up until the age of 10, a child sees their parents as heroes, their sole reference point. After that, socialization begins. Biologically, the child begins to open up to the outside world. They may not want to oppose their parents, but an inner split begins to form, and this is normal. In fact, psychological literature refers to adolescence as a ‘normal schizophrenic period.’ Contradictory and questioning behavior in a teenager is a sign of healthy development. If a teenager is overly quiet and obedient, it is often a sign of suppressed emotions and carries a risk of an emotional outburst later on. The real danger lies with the child who does not express their problems. The teenager who asks questions and objects is going through a natural developmental phase. Parents often become worried when their children start asking questions: ‘Are they getting out of control?’ ‘Why are they opposing us?’ However, if children are constantly criticized, they may either withdraw or develop reactive behaviors. During this period, it is no longer possible to guide children through pressure, fear, or intimidation. We need to change our methods. In our own culture and belief system, communication is encouraged through affection, persuasion, and understanding. The approach should not be based on force, but rather on love and trust.”
“There is meaning in the conflicts experienced during this period”
Highlighting that teenagers use conflict to send messages to their parents, Tarhan said:“There are three types of communication between a child and their parents. The first is healthy communication, the second is conflictual communication, and the third is no communication at all. The most dangerous is the third. If everyone in the home retreats into their own corners, if there is no conversation or sharing, that is worse than conflict. In healthy communication, humor may be present, that is, a sign of a strong relationship. Identity confusion and chaos during adolescence are normal. The conflicts experienced during this time are meaningful, and the child is trying to send a message: ‘I am here.’ What matters is that parents develop a common language to understand this message. If there is favoritism at home. For example, if the mother sides with one child and the father with another, and there can be no peace in that home. Parents must learn to manage conflict and adopt new methods of problem-solving and stress management. It is like two people in a rowboat, if both get angry and row in different directions at the same time, the boat will capsize. One of them must remain calm. This applies both in marriage and in parenting. At the core of a solution lies what we call radical acceptance, that is, a method commonly used in therapy, especially for trauma. Some parents struggle to communicate with their children because they cannot accept their behavior. First, acceptance is necessary. When you accept the child as an individual, it becomes easier to guide them. Every situation has a solution, but that solution begins with acceptance.”
“With Positive Psychology 2.0, the Concepts of Meaning and Purpose Have Gained Even Greater Importance”
Emphasizing that young people without purpose cannot chart their own path, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that “Positive psychology is a scientific discipline that examines how a person should live, think, and build relationships to stay healthy and prevent mental illness. It teaches how to achieve authentic, that is, genuine happiness. Classical psychology aims to solve problems by moving from negative to neutral, from minus to zero. Positive psychology, on the other hand, aims to move from zero to positive, in other words, to increase individual well-being. In this respect, it serves as a form of primary prevention, activated before illness arises. Today, especially in schools, guidance counselors and psychological consultants show great interest in this field. Because it is not only important to correct negative behaviors, but also to reinforce positive ones. There is a similar approach in medicine. Instead of invasive methods, we now prefer to strengthen the body's own systems to help it fight illness. With Positive Psychology 2.0, the concepts of meaning and purpose have become even more significant. A person without meaning or purpose is like a rudderless ship. A ship that does not know where it is heading will drift at the slightest storm. Likewise, if children live only in the moment, they will be swept away by life. For this reason, they must be guided toward a lifestyle that offers them goals and strategies. Children who grow up without purpose remain at the mercy of events and are unable to determine their own path.”
“It is not snough to just say ‘Live meaningfully’”
Noting that the rise of narcissism has led to an increase in suicide and violence, Tarhan said that “Since 2011, there has been a noticeable global increase in narcissism among young people. In regions where narcissism rises, there is also a spike in suicide, violence, truancy, and school shootings. Statistics clearly show this trend. There is a widely used treatment model in some psychiatric clinics in California that describes four core features of this condition: First, hedonism, that is, living focused on pleasure. They say, ‘If I like it, it is good; if I do not, it is bad.’ Second, egocentrism, that is, being centered solely on one’s own desires. Third, isolation, that is, weakening of social bonds and increasing loneliness. Fourth, withdrawal and detachment, that is, psychological issues are hidden, and children shut themselves off emotionally. These effects are particularly common during adolescence. Therefore, it is extremely important to instill a sense of meaning and purpose in adolescents. It is not enough to merely say ‘live a meaningful life.’ We must provide them with goals and help them develop strategies. Years of psychiatric research and psychological scales show that a large portion of young people question the purpose of their lives and feel inadequate in this area. The capitalist system’s insatiable drive for more profit further deepens this void. And it is the children who become the victims of such a system…”
“The individual who develops himself achieves both peace and happiness”
Emphasizing the necessity of having a purpose beyond oneself, Tarhan said that Aristotle divided happiness into two types 2,500 years ago. The first is pleasure-based happiness, that is, hedonic happiness, which involves short-term pleasures derived from dopamine. The second is meaningful happiness, which is rooted in pursuing ideals and values and results in long-term inner peace. Hedonic happiness is associated with the brain’s dopamine system. When a pleasant experience occurs, dopamine is released, and the person feels temporary happiness. Meaningful happiness arises from pursuing goals and ideals that give life meaning. It is the process of striving toward the ego ideal. When a person has a goal beyond the self, they achieve true and lasting happiness. This approach also exists in our own culture. For instance, in Western languages, there is no exact equivalent of the concept of huzur (inner peace). In English, the word peace is used, but huzur is of Arabic origin and literally means to be present and prepared. True peace is born from being spiritually prepared for the future and for mortality. The individual who improves himself and gives meaning to life will attain both peace and happiness.”
“These problems should be addressed with the firefighter model”
Answering questions from participants, Tarhan highlighted the importance of proper intervention during moments of anger. He said that Anger in adolescents is expected. Some express their anger directly; others show it through passive-aggressive behavior, that is, breaking things, playing mind games, expressing anger in indirect ways. This is common in adolescence. There is also a concept known as ‘adolescent normal.’ This is often seen in teens with social communication difficulties. For example, in conditions like Asperger’s Syndrome, an adolescent may be highly intelligent academically but have poor social and emotional intelligence. When everyone laughs, that person might not understand the joke. They may lack gross motor skills needed for teamwork. They may behave differently during play. Such differences can be perceived as abnormal by peers. What is considered normal for other teens may be extremely difficult for them. Anger-related issues are frequently encountered in schools. These problems must be approached with the firefighter model. In firefighting, the priority is to extinguish the fire, and only afterward is the cause investigated. Trying to identify the cause of anger during an outburst is like adding fuel to the fire. It worsens the anger. Instead, one must first allow the anger to be experienced, and then calmly investigate why it started, which rule was broken, and which principle was violated. If you respond to anger with anger, you activate the other person’s emotional brain, not their rational brain. When dealing with an angry person, their emotional force will influence you. The stronger person may dominate the weaker one, but that is not healthy communication.”.
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)