President of Üsküdar University and psychiatrist Prof. Nevzat Tarhan participated in a talk titled “Is Mental Calm Possible in a Digitalized World?” as part of the Rami Psychology Talks organized by Rami Library. Emphasizing that individuals who wish to be innovative and entrepreneurial should allocate 15 percent of their time to thinking about thinking, Prof. Tarhan stated that mental calm becomes possible when the brain’s meaning network is activated. He underlined that relationships established in the digital world do not represent moments of silence and noted that there is a kind of noise in virtual media that appears as silence.
The talk titled “Is Mental Calm Possible in a Digitalized World?” was held at Rami Library under the moderation of journalist Şaban Özdemir. The event attracted great interest and was attended by a distinguished group of participants.
Mental incubation occurs through the 15 percent rule
Pointing out that individuals who aim to be innovative and entrepreneurial should dedicate 15 percent of their time to reflective thinking, Prof. Tarhan stated: “Our brain has silent corridors, but modern life rarely allows us to use them. However, there is an important rule related to innovation and entrepreneurship known as the 15 percent rule. According to this rule, a person who wants to be cognitively innovative and productive should spend 15 percent of their time thinking deeply about their work and reflecting on their thoughts. Instead of constantly rushing through routines, when this time is allocated, individuals begin to think about the philosophy behind what they do. At that moment, the brain wanders through its silent corridors, and that is when inspiration emerges. This results in an intuition that is both intuitive and rational. This explains why Archimedes’ discovery in the bath or Newton’s insight under the apple tree were not coincidences. This process is called mental incubation, meaning that the brain enters an incubation period.”
Mental calm is possible when the meaning network becomes active
Emphasizing that the brain operates freely when the default mode network is active, Prof. Tarhan said: “There is a network in the brain called the default mode network. When you want to reset a computer, you switch it to default mode, clear it, and then install new programs. The default mode network in the brain functions in a similar way. It operates like an autopilot and is also referred to as the meaning network. When this network is active, the brain works freely, disconnects from external stimuli, and focuses entirely on the inner world of meaning. The silent corridors of the brain correspond exactly to this state. This creates a space and a period for self-discovery, self-development, and renewal. What we call mental calm becomes possible when this network is activated.”
True peace comes from being prepared for both good and bad
Addressing the concept of peace from the perspective of positive psychology, Prof. Tarhan noted: “Positive psychology is often referred to as the science of happiness, but its formal name is positive psychology. The first global congress in this field was held in 2009. When I researched its theoretical foundations, I realized that much of it was derived from Mevlana, Eastern wisdom, and Anatolian spiritual heritage. These ancient insights were systematized and transformed into a scientific discipline. This actually reflects our shortcoming, because we did not systematize them ourselves. Concepts such as authentic happiness are emphasized in positive psychology. There is no exact equivalent of the word ‘huzur’ in English. Instead, they use the term authentic happiness. In Turkish, authentic happiness corresponds to huzur. Peace is not about constant happiness. It means being prepared for both positive and negative situations. When a person is mentally prepared for both good and bad, true peace is achieved.”
Virtual media is not silence but noise disguised as silence
Stressing the importance of being selective in digital environments, Prof. Tarhan stated: “Relationships in the digital world are not moments of silence. Silence refers to moments when a person engages in inner dialogue and self-observation. Digital environments do not allow this. We call it social media, but it is actually virtual media. Virtual does not mean unreal. When you transfer money digitally, the action is virtual but the result is real. The same applies to virtual relationships. Information enters the brain and becomes real. Virtual media is not a sign of silence. On the contrary, it contains a noise that appears silent. Like well-insulated factories that seem quiet from the outside but are extremely active inside, digital media intensely stimulates the brain. Therefore, selectivity and filtering are essential. When used purposefully, digital platforms and artificial intelligence can be highly effective and beneficial.”
Digitalization has fundamentally changed parenting styles
Referring to the rapid consumption of information, Prof. Tarhan emphasized: “Digitalization has fundamentally transformed parenting styles in this era. Information that once took decades to consume is now exhausted within three years. This requires individuals to continuously renew themselves. When digital tools are used purposefully, they facilitate and accelerate progress. However, when used solely for entertainment, they can cause serious problems. Entertainment is a psychological need, but it should not exceed 20 percent of daily life. The remaining time should be devoted to education, profession, goals, and personal development. Many countries have begun regulating children’s access to digital platforms. Australia took the first step, and similar regulations are being discussed in Türkiye and Europe. In some Northern European countries, children under the age of three are prohibited from using tablets and smartphones.”
“Artificial intelligence adapts to the user’s stance”
Emphasizing that artificial intelligence almost perfectly imitates the way the human brain works, Prof. Nevzat Tarhan stated: “The psychologist of the future will be the one who uses artificial intelligence effectively. In fact, this applies to every profession, but if a psychologist uses artificial intelligence correctly and efficiently, they can treat their patients much more successfully. If not, they may end up becoming a tool in their patients’ hands. For example, when you approach artificial intelligence and ask a question, if you behave like a child, artificial intelligence responds with a maternal attitude. It treats you like a small child and makes an assessment such as ‘this person does not understand much,’ then begins to guide you accordingly. In other words, artificial intelligence takes its position based on the user’s stance. Just as the printing press created a major revolution in human history, artificial intelligence is now creating a similar transformation. In fact, it is already doing so. There is no way to avoid this. This is truly striking because artificial intelligence almost mirrors the functioning of the human brain.”
“The virus of suspicion must not enter a relationship”
Pointing out that once trust weakens, other problems begin to emerge in relationships, Prof. Tarhan said: “In open, transparent, and accountable relationships, digitalization actually strengthens trust. However, in relationships lacking accountability, when a person comes home and hides or locks their account passwords, this weakens trust. Once trust is weakened, other problems begin to surface. In respectful relationships, after trust is firmly established, whether a password is shared or not eventually stops being an issue. People no longer feel the need to question excessively. However, at the very beginning of a relationship, before reaching that stage, the virus of suspicion must not be allowed to enter. Because suspicion is a virus. The same applies to lying. If a person lies, it is lying that opens the door to all forms of wrongdoing. If you were to gather all evils in a room, the door would be opened by a lie. Therefore, one of the most important values parents should teach their children is not to lie. Truthfulness must be instilled in children as a moral value.”
