Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, was a live guest on 24TV's 'Deniz Uğur ile Hafta Sonu' (Weekend with Deniz Uğur) program. Tarhan made striking evaluations regarding 'The Psychology of Evil and Toxic Relationships', which is also the name of his new book. Emphasizing that in recent years honesty has been perceived as a virtue rather than a fundamental value that everyone should possess, Tarhan stated that the psychological and social immune system against evil, which he likened to a cancer cell, should be strengthened. Tarhan also stated that the vaccine against evil should be administered at a young age.
“We all have an evil part within us”
In the program discussing his new book, which met its readers from Timaş Yayınları, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the evil part within humans and touched upon the lack of empathy. Tarhan said; “We all have an evil part within us. Psychiatry ignored this, calling it humanism. It said, 'Humans are good. Evil does not come from humans. Evil belongs to the outside.' However, there is an evil part within us. This is the answer to the question, 'Where is the devil?' If we feed the evil part within us, it grows and enslaves our lives. What happens when it has many things? Knowledgeable monsters, ruthless psychopaths are raised. The current capitalist system raises these. The only point that books on evil in world literature focus on is the lack of empathy. It's not just a lack of empathy; there is also evil. Lack of empathy, mercilessness, cruelty, having a sense of right solely for oneself. Thinking only of one's own interests, one's own needs, not thinking of others' needs. This is a very important thing, but it's not just this. Humans also have other characteristics. There are values that Anatolian wisdom has taught us, that have protected us for years. These need to be rebuilt, revived. So, it's not about rediscovering here, but rebuilding. Old answers are not enough for old questions. New answers are needed for old questions. The same goes for the issue of evil. We need to approach it with scientific rigor.”
“Honesty is not a virtue, but a fundamental value that everyone should possess”
Tarhan, stating that truths should be explained after being filtered through reason, said; “Liberalism and questioning are global values. These are characteristics that can be opportunities, that can be used in a good way. They are opportunities, not threats. The new generation questions everything, does not accept without understanding. It does not accept without passing through the filter of reason. Therefore, we need to explain these truths by filtering them through reason. The issue of evil is the same. Currently, we see honesty as if it were a virtue. However, honesty is a fundamental value that everyone should possess. Now, values have shifted; this is a global epidemic. Its effects have been widely observed in our country too. There are also those unaffected by this epidemic, for example, Nordic European countries. They are more honest than us in terms of lying, better at respecting the rights of others. Generally, their welfare level is high. There is a legal order there. There is trust in the law. Since there is a legal order, it protects them.”
“Justice is what the devil dislikes…”
Tarhan, stating that communication conflicts occur in an unjust environment, said; “To best understand justice, think of a family. In a family, if a mother or father always gives their child the best food, the best allowance, and does the best things, will there be peace in that home? The sibling will be jealous, go pinch them, ruin their game. They will enter into a competitive relationship with them, and peace will flee from the home. In the smallest unit, the family, injustice thus disrupts peace, harmony, and trust. Communication conflicts arise. This is present in company managements. Justice is what evil, what the devil, never likes. Where there is justice, there is balance. In the sharing of rights, opportunities, benefits, and in resource management, neither too much nor too little. Absolute equality is not justice. Justice is being able to distribute equitably according to a person's abilities. Even love needs to be just.”
“The fight against evil is like the fight against cancer”
Tarhan, likening evil to a cancer cell, said; “The fight against evil is like the fight against cancer. For example, a cancer cell starts to grow in our liver. That cell grows by engulfing the cells next to it. A cancer cell has three characteristics: it is limitless, irresponsible, and insatiable. First, it is limitless; that is, it should normally respect tissues. Other cells grow without harming other tissues, but this one grows by engulfing others. Second, it is irresponsible. It says, 'What do I care about the future of the body?' It is greedy; it grows so much that when it reaches 3 millimeters, it develops its own blood vessels. A cancer cell is like this. Such people are like cancer cells in society. In fact, Dante has a beautiful saying about this, 'The deepest places in hell are reserved for those who remain silent in the face of evil.' He doesn't say it's reserved for evil, but for those who remain silent. The fight against darkness and the fight against evil are the same thing. To fight darkness, instead of saying 'Darkness is evil' and cursing, you will light a candle. It is necessary to strengthen the immune system against evil. So, we will strengthen our psychological and social immune system. That is the best way. To do this, there is no need to explain 'Evil is this bad and that bad.' We will work with the method of positive reinforcement, by increasing what is good, right, and beautiful.”
The evil vaccine should be administered at a young age!
Tarhan, pointing out that parents should be guide captains for their children, said; “There is a vaccine for evil. We need to administer the evil vaccine to children at a young age. Not protecting them from evil. Not raising them in isolation like a hothouse flower. But giving them an evil vaccine. What is the characteristic of a vaccine? When you give a diluted virus, the body gains immunity, it learns. When we raise our child, we say, 'May our child stay away from evil!' However, that is the reality of life. That is, they will go to school, their friend will take their toy, they will fight, and they will learn to defend themselves from that. You will let them learn about life. We will be their guide without them feeling it. Motherhood, fatherhood is not about stepping in for the child and protecting them, not making them happy, but preparing them for life. That is, parents will leave the captaincy to the child and become guide captains. Not raising them in a glass dome. If so, because the child has not received a stress vaccine, when they enter a social environment, they immediately catch a disease due to lack of immunity. Just as children raised in a sterile environment can't get rid of diseases as soon as they go to school, this is similar.”
“Ferdi Tayfur, an artist who entered people's veins and touched their hearts”
Speaking about the passing of artist Ferdi Tayfur, Tarhan first offered his condolences to his fans. Tarhan stated that the authoritarian state policy in the field of music paved the way for arabesque, and the local, natural, and sincere Ferdi Tayfur became a symbol; “Ferdi Tayfur is an artist who entered people's veins and touched their hearts. When we look at Ferdi Tayfur's life, he has other aspects besides his artistic side. For example, he has localism. You cannot be universal without being local. He adopted our local values and was able to process the needs of people today with our local values. He is an artist who was able to meet the need to express feelings, express sorrows, and express connections with spouse, friends, and family. For example, people hear something in the song ‘Emmioğlu’. They say, ‘He expressed me in this.’ There, music and the brain dance simultaneously. Synchronously... The brain creates enthusiasm. There is localism, sincerity, and naturalness. There is no artificiality in Ferdi Tayfur. His being local, natural, and sincere had a very positive effect on people. It is very important that he leaves such an impression behind even after his passing. I wish him mercy from God and offer my condolences to his loved ones.”
“We are sociologically in adolescence”
Tarhan, emphasizing that culture should be learned correctly, said; “We are sociologically in adolescence in society. Adolescents ask, ‘Who am I, where do I belong, why?’ In Turkey, there is a very prolonged adolescence. We cannot sociologically complete our adolescence. Because we cannot sociologically complete our adolescence, we cannot find our own identity. However, when a person asks themselves, ‘Who am I, where do I belong, why?’, they find their own identity and complete their adolescence. After that, the person enters a period of positivity in their life. We cannot enter that; there is always a conflicted society. This geography is a geography of trauma. It is not easy to survive here. Culturally, there is cultural imperialism now. Fifty years from now, many cultures in the world will disappear. The same thing is being done with artificial intelligence now. The same things are being done with digital platforms, but let's protect our own identity, and express ourselves in the best way on those platforms. Because Westerners admire our culture. In Anatolia, there is both material culture and tangible culture, and abstract culture. We have reduced culture to tangible culture. However, the real culture is abstract culture, its philosophy, its wisdom. The real culture is to correctly build the identity of the people who will circulate within the buildings.”
A meaningful life for natural serotonin in the brain!
Tarhan, stating that meaning-based happiness targets long-term happiness, said; “The Western world perceives individualism as selfishness. It is even called the civilization crisis, the California syndrome. The symptom of California syndrome is Hedonism. According to Hedonism, the purpose of life is to pursue pleasure. Aristotle said this 2,500 years ago. He says, ‘There are two kinds of happiness; hedonistic happiness and eudaimonic happiness.’ Hedonistic happiness is pleasure-based happiness. Eudaimonic happiness is meaning-based happiness. It is the person who pursues ideas, ideals, and meaning. Hedonistic happiness, with new knowledge from neuroscience, releases dopamine in the brain and wants it again when it finishes. Meaning-based happiness, on the other hand, releases serotonin in the brain because it targets long-term happiness. Even if a person encounters an obstacle while pursuing meaning, they continue to release serotonin because they have a goal. Dopamine is something similar to cocaine. It gives pleasure. The brain's reward system works with dopamine. When it runs out, the brain wants dopamine again. Antidepressants, however, increase serotonin, compensating for its loss. What provides natural serotonin in the brain is for a person to lead a meaningful life, to live with meaning-based happiness. It is someone with a long-term goal. The brains of those who think in a goal and strategy-oriented way release serotonin. The brains of people who only think of pleasure release dopamine.”
“Lack of meaning and purpose weakens a person spiritually”
Tarhan, stating that one should show a dignified stance against life's difficulties, said; “Lack of meaning and purpose weakens a person spiritually, making them fragile. A person without purpose easily gets sidetracked by a small distraction and falls into error. Someone with meaning and purpose goes towards their goal. You set out on the road in traffic; if you don't know where you're going, you'll get stuck somewhere. Like the tortoise and the hare... If the hare forgets its goal, the tortoise overtakes it. It's the same in life... What kind of person do you want to be at the end of your life, how do you want to be remembered? This purpose is important. If a person doesn't aim for their purpose, they become like a ship that has left the harbor and goes wherever the wind blows. It is not the wind that makes the kite fly; it is the kite's stance against the wind. It is its taking a position against the wind. Therefore, true success is a dignified stance against life's difficulties. It is not about achieving victory. It is about showing a dignified stance on the path to victory. Only a person with a goal can do this.”
“One should not fear toxic relationships and abandon ship”
Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of the concept of patience, said; “Toxic relationships develop a person. One should not fear toxic relationships and abandon ship. Those toxic relationships mature a person. There is a very important concept here that people today often forget: resilience training. The concept of patience. This is the most important skill of our time. Patience is not withdrawing and waiting; it is a meditative action. It is conforming to the speed and rhythm of nature. It is active patience. It is being able to wait to achieve a goal. You will endure without forgetting the goal. Such patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet. Enduring is difficult, but the results are very beautiful.”