Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan participated in a talk titled “Is Mental Tranquility Possible in a Digitalizing World?” within the scope of Rami Psychology Talks organized by Rami Library. Tarhan emphasized that individuals who want to be innovative and entrepreneurial should dedicate 15% of their time to thinking about thought, and stated that mental tranquility is possible when the meaning network becomes active. Tarhan noted that relationships established with the digital world are not a time for silence, underlining that there is a noise in virtual media that appears to be a sign of silence.
The talk titled “Is mental tranquility possible in a digitalizing world?” took place at Rami Library, moderated by Journalist Şaban Özdemir.
An distinguished group of participants attended the highly anticipated meeting.
Mental incubation period occurs with the 15% rule…
Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, drawing attention to the fact that individuals who want to be innovative and entrepreneurial should allocate 15 percent of their time to thinking about thought, stated: “Our brain has silent corridors, but modern life doesn't allow us to use them much. However, there's an important rule related to innovation and entrepreneurship: the 15% rule. According to this, for a person who wants to be cognitively innovative and entrepreneurial, to create something new, 15% of their time needs to be dedicated to thinking about thought and deeply contemplating their work. So, what happens when you set aside this time instead of constantly rushing into routine and acting in a hurry? The person starts to think about the philosophy of their work. When they think this way, they wander through those silent corridors of the brain, and it's precisely at that moment that inspiration strikes. An intuitive, yet also rational, insight emerges. This situation explains why Archimedes' discovery in the bath or Newton's sudden brilliant idea while sitting under a tree weren't coincidences. This is called mental incubation. In other words, the brain enters an incubation period.”
“Mental tranquility is possible with the activation of the meaning network”
Tarhan underlined that the brain works freely when the default mode network is active, stating: “There is a network in the brain called the ‘default mode network’. This means a hypothetical network. When you want to reset a computer, you put it in default mode, zero it, and then upload new programs; the default mode network in our brain performs a similar function. This network works almost like the brain's autopilot. It is also called the ‘meaning network’. When this network is active, the brain works freely. It closes itself off to external stimuli and begins to operate entirely within its internal world of meaning. As can be seen when browsing the internet, DMN, or the default mode network, is considered the brain's autopilot. Its operation in what we call the brain's silent corridors corresponds exactly to this. This situation creates a space and a period for an individual to embark on a kind of inner journey of discovery, to get to know themselves, to develop and renew themselves. What we call mental tranquility becomes possible with the activation of this network in the brain.”
When a person is ready for both good and bad, they achieve true peace…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that positive psychology means a person succeeding in repairing their own mind: “I address the word 'huzur' (peace/tranquility) in the field we call positive psychology. Positive psychology is often known as the science of happiness among the public, but its official name is positive psychology. The first world congress in this field was held in 2009. When that congress took place, I started researching 'What is this, what is its theoretical basis?' I found that these studies were derived from Mevlana, Eastern sages, and Anatolian wisdom. They systematized this ancient knowledge, developed a methodology, and turned it into a branch of science. I said, 'It's good that they did.' In fact, this is a fault of ours. Others are doing this because we didn't. Based on this, I tried to do studies such as 'Mesnevi Therapy, Yunus Therapy, Love Therapy'. My book on positive psychology is also one of the first works in this field in Turkey. It was written in the 2010s. All of this actually expresses a person's success in repairing their own mind. For example, in positive psychology, there is a concept called 'authentic happiness'. There isn't an exact equivalent for the word 'huzur' in English. 'Peace' is mostly used in the sense of 'barış' (peace/harmony). Instead, they have brought forward the concept of 'authentic happiness'. Authentic means pure, genuine happiness. In Turkish, however, I found that the equivalent of authentic happiness is the word 'huzur'. Huzur is a different concept from happiness. It is of Arabic origin and means 'to be ready'. The point is not for a person to be constantly happy or to always think positive things. Huzur is about creating a way of life where one thinks of both the positive and the negative, and is ready for both. In other words, a person achieves true huzur not only when they are ready for the good but also when they can prepare themselves for the bad and negative situations.”
“There is a noise in virtual media that appears to be a sign of silence”
Tarhan, speaking about the necessity of being selective in digital platforms, said: “Relationships established with the digital world are not a time for silence. Because the brain is not silent there. What we call silent time are moments when a person talks to themselves, engages in introspection, and first embarks on an inner journey of discovery. The digital environment does not allow for this. We call this social media, but it is not really social; it is virtual media. Virtual media does not mean realistic. For example, in a digital environment, you transfer 10 thousand dollars via EFT from one account to another. This action is virtual, but the result is not virtual; 10 thousand dollars have genuinely gone. You have sent it. The same applies to relationships in virtual media. We say 'I have a relationship in virtual media,' but there you encounter a piece of information. You take that information into your brain, and the job is done. That information is no longer virtual. It has entered the brain. Virtual media is not a sign of silence; on the contrary, there is a noise there that appears silent. This situation seriously misleads us. There are some factories that, because they are well-insulated, no sound comes from outside, but inside they work like bees. Virtual media is similar. Information in the digital environment intensely works and activates the brain. It places the person in a fake world and influences them there. For this reason, it is necessary to be selective in digital platforms. Filtering is very important. If we succeed in filtering, digital platforms facilitate our work in leading us to our goal. Artificial intelligence is also like this. When we use it towards our goal, it becomes extremely effective and useful.”
“Digitalization has fundamentally changed the parenting style of this era”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that individuals constantly need to renew themselves because information is consumed rapidly, stated: “Digitalization has fundamentally changed the parenting style of this era. The speed of information consumption among young people has significantly increased. While previously a piece of information was consumed in 10, 20, or even 30 years, today this period has decreased to approximately 3 years. Because information is consumed so rapidly, individuals must constantly renew themselves. In this renewal process, if digital tools are used purposefully, they facilitate and accelerate a person's work. There appears to be a trend in this direction. However, when digital environments are used solely for entertainment, this can lead to serious problems. Entertainment is, of course, a psychological need; a person can allocate approximately 20 percent of their day to entertainment-related activities. However, this rate should not exceed 20 percent. Digital and virtual environments in the remaining time should definitely be used for one's profession, goals, studies, school, and development. Use for entertainment and pleasure should be limited and controlled. Regarding children, serious regulations have started in this area worldwide. Australia took the first step; in Turkey, research on this subject is ongoing. Similar practices have been implemented in Europe. In some countries, children under 13, 14, and in some places even 15 years old are prohibited from opening social media accounts. A much earlier limit was introduced in Northern European countries. In these countries, it was forbidden to give tablets and smartphones to children up to 3 years old.”
“Artificial intelligence takes a position according to the user's stance”
Tarhan, underlining that artificial intelligence almost perfectly mimics the way the human brain works, stated: “The psychologist of the future will be a psychologist who uses artificial intelligence well. In fact, this applies to every professional group, but if a psychologist uses artificial intelligence correctly and effectively, they can treat their patients much more successfully. If they don't use artificial intelligence well, then they become a plaything for their patients. For example, if you go and ask questions to artificial intelligence, if you act like a child there, artificial intelligence will approach you with a motherly attitude. It will treat you like a small child. It will make an assessment like 'This person understands nothing' and start guiding you. In other words, artificial intelligence takes a position according to the user's stance. Just as the printing press made a great revolution in human history, artificial intelligence is bringing about a similar transformation. In fact, it is already doing this. It is not possible for us to escape from this. This is indeed a very striking situation. Because artificial intelligence almost perfectly mimics the way the human brain works.”
“The virus of doubt should not enter a relationship”
Tarhan, mentioning that other problems emerge in a relationship when trust weakens, stated: 'In open, transparent, and accountable relationships, digitalization strengthens trust. However, in a non-accountable relationship, if a person closes or hides their account password when they come home, this weakens trust. As soon as trust weakens, other problems arise in the relationship. Yet, in respectful relationships, once trust is established, whether you hide the password or not, after a certain point, this issue ceases to be a problem. People no longer question much. However, at the very beginning of the relationship, before reaching that point, the virus of doubt must not enter the relationship. Because doubt is a virus. The same applies to people who lie. If a person lies, what opens the door to all evils is again lying. If you fill all evils into a room, lying opens its door. Therefore, one of the most important values a parent should teach their child is not to lie. Not lying should be instilled in the child as a moral value.'”
