Uskudar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, in the Pet Summit where he took part as a speaker, made important evaluations under the title “Animal Love and Psychological Gains”. In the program moderated by Prof. Dr. Tamer Dodurka and held virtually, Tarhan stated that keeping animals benefits both sides and is a cure for loneliness.
“The positive aspects of animal love are abundant”
At the summit, Tarhan stated that the positive aspects of animal love for humans are numerous; “It provides oxytocin, alleviates the feeling of loneliness, and relaxes the person. However, if an animal is merely a means for a person to overcome loneliness, that is not a healthy situation. A person should also engage with their children, community, and friends, as well as their pet; without this balance, it won't work. There are some narcissistic individuals who cannot establish relationships with people. These individuals see themselves as superior, remain lonely, and suddenly get a pet to establish a relationship with it. However, that animal cannot be a person's only friend; it can only be one friend among others. Therefore, an animal should not be the sole focus.” he said.
“The pandemic further isolated lonely people”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the UK announced it would establish a Ministry of Loneliness in 2018; “The pandemic further isolated lonely people. In such a situation, a breakdown is expected from a weak link. In the UK, there is a Loneliness Study conducted jointly by Manchester University and the BBC in 2018, with over 55,000 participants. Here, the loneliness rate among those aged 16-24 was found to be 40 percent. 27 percent of older individuals are lonely. They faced the crisis in this state. The crisis experienced by Western civilization is the California syndrome. They entered the pandemic with this crisis.” he said.
“Keeping pets is the cure for loneliness”
Tarhan stated that especially in Western societies, there is more love for dogs than cats; “Unlike cats, a dog is an animal that glorifies loyalty. A cat is a more dignified animal. It is difficult to put a cat in a car and take it away because it is tied to its territory and dislikes leaving it. However, a dog is attached to a person and will go inside a car. From the perspective of animal behavior, this is an interesting difference. Keeping a dignified animal seems more suitable for our culture. One reason why women particularly prefer cats is their desire to satisfy the attachment feelings that arise from maternal instincts. It acts like a cure for loneliness. Keeping an animal at home is considered a solution. The person alleviates their loneliness, talks to it, and cares for it. A situation pleasing to both sides emerges,” he stated.
“Animals have no ulterior motives”
Tarhan said that animals are happy where they feel safe; “When animals satisfy their basic needs like eating, drinking, and reproducing, no animal is happier than that. In its own social environment, everything is sufficient for it. Animals do not have abstract pleasures like humans do. Humans think one step ahead, they think about the future, whereas for animals, when their belly is full, that's it; they have no ulterior motives. They don't want more than their needs, but this is not the same for humans.” he said.