Üsküdar University Founding Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan met with doctors and healthcare professionals at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital. In his talk titled 'Mental Health in the Digital Age', Tarhan discussed the effects of digitalization on individual and societal psychology. Tarhan, thoroughly examining topics such as artificial intelligence, digital loneliness, and technology use in children, emphasized that the concept of 'worthiness' in popular culture should not be reduced to physical appearance. He pointed out that digital loneliness is also an indicator of the absence of deep relationships.
Held at the İbrahim Paşa Conference Hall of Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital Seyrantepe Campus, the program where Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan was the speaker was attended by Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Hasan Sinan Uslu, along with doctors and healthcare professionals.
Prof. Dr. Hasan Sinan Uslu: “We all experience certain roles within a changing world”
Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Hasan Sinan Uslu delivered the opening speech of the event. Uslu; “As a manager with 126 years of institutional memory and the Hamidiye Etfal identity, I thank you all for coming to this pleasant conversation where Prof. Nevzat will share with us the philosophical, sociological, medical, and scientific aspects of his outlook on life. While this institutional cultural memory is inherently part of all of us, in a sense, we all play certain roles within a changing world. One of these roles is to internalize the correct usage for our children, for future generations, within this digital age, as well as the positive or negative effects it has on us. Because if we don't internalize that imagination, existing concepts won't just become material by moving away from matter and spirit. We call that 'meta'. Therefore, you will all add meaning to this enjoyable conversation by being here, and it will also be a dynamic meeting.”
Following the opening speech, the moderation of the talk was conducted by Sümeyye Çınaroğlu, Director of Health Care Services at Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The smartest digital entity is now before us…”
Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that artificial intelligence should be used for good purposes, began his words by saying; “Artificial intelligence, as technology itself, is inherently neutral. If we manage it with good goals and purposes, it will lead us to our objective. If we manage it with wrong goals, it becomes malicious. Artificial intelligence showed us something important regarding this. The smartest digital entity is now before us. It may be smarter than us, but it is not wise. Because intelligence provides access to information and resources, while wisdom is the ability to reason. Humans reason emotionally, cognitively, and socially. Our frontal lobe makes decisions such as appropriate–inappropriate, do–don't do, valid–invalid, safe–unsafe. What a human does is actually choose. We evaluate what we perceive with our minds and five senses and make a choice accordingly.”
“Digital loneliness is an indicator of the absence of deep relationships”
Tarhan stated that digital loneliness emerges with the absence of true friendships; “Cyberbullying has become one of the most significant areas of peer bullying. Seriously organized groups and gangs are being formed on social media in this regard. It is especially prevalent among adolescents. Those exposed to cyberbullying become victims, and this situation has now turned into a serious crime area. Digital loneliness is a similarly noteworthy concept. Last year, it was chosen as the word of the year in Turkey. It stood out by receiving over 1 million votes in the Turkish Language Association's survey. It is defined as 'loneliness in a crowd'. As a Turkish society, we are a warm and sincere community. We have a close-knit, intertwined structure. However, despite this, the number of people who feel lonely in the digital crowd is increasing. This is a crisis. That is, there are many relationships, but they are superficial; deep relationships are absent. People who learn to remain calm under stress do not fall victim to digital loneliness. Because the digital system, especially virtual media, turns into an addiction for those who show excessive interest. Consequently, digital loneliness is an indicator of the absence of deep relationships. A person can have dozens or even thousands of friends in the digital environment, but if they don't have a real friend, that person is digitally lonely.”
“California syndrome evolved into popular culture syndrome”
Tarhan, stating that the effects of hedonism are increasing, said; “There are three important threats defined by the United Nations as dangers awaiting the future. The first is income inequality, the second is climate change, and the third is loneliness. The United Nations sees these three as the biggest threats to the future. Because loneliness disrupts human relationships and social bonds. When social relations weaken, the solidarity power of society also decreases. This situation is called California syndrome. Although it has not officially entered the psychiatric literature, it is a concept emphasized in popular psychiatry. California syndrome has four main symptoms. I no longer call it just California syndrome, I call it Western civilization syndrome, or even popular culture syndrome. One characteristic of this syndrome is hedonism, or the pursuit of pleasure. Today, the influence of hedonism is quite pronounced.”
Families must be decisive in setting limits…
Tarhan, emphasizing that children should use technology consciously, said; “For adolescents, we recommend limiting phone usage outside of purposes like lessons and homework to approximately 20 hours a week, which is an average of 3 hours a day. We advise families to be determined in implementing this limitation. No phone should be given to a child until the age of 3. In the 3–10 age range, if a phone is to be given, it should be used under parental supervision and together with the child. Because a child's abstract thinking ability develops around 6–7 years old, and until that age, they can perceive content on screens as real. This perception can lead to fears and traumatic effects. Parents should watch the game, video, or content with their child, show them how to play it, what it is, and experience it together. In this way, the child learns to use technology consciously. During school hours, especially in primary school age, phone usage should be prevented as much as possible. If it must be given, parental control and restrictive applications should be used. By installing media literacy and digital literacy programs, usage can be allowed with applications that only show the child's location or have limited functionality.”
“A child models their parents”
Tarhan, addressing the role of parents in child education, stated; “Love and discipline are like snowfall; if they are slow and constant, they stick. Some mothers kiss their child in the morning, saying, 'My dear child.' In the afternoon, they shout, 'Why did I give birth to you?' In such a situation, the child questions, 'Does she love me or not?' In this case, the child cannot learn emotional regulation, that is, to balance their emotions. A child models their parents. Whatever the parents are like, the child forms their algorithms in the brain accordingly, and develops and matures accordingly. Indeed, when Ibn Khaldun was asked 'How should a child be educated?', he replied, 'I have no special formula for educating your child; as you are, so will your child be.' This is truly a rule that remains valid today. The child observes their parents. If the mother and father use a common language, this is a wonderful situation. But if the mother acts one way and the father another, the child acts as it pleases. It does this very well because the boundary is still not clear for the child. In the end, they might say, 'My mother hates me.' Inconsistent love and discipline cause this perception to form in the child.”
“Self-exhibition syndrome emerged”
Tarhan, referring to the concept of social acceptance, concluded his words by saying; “Social media has given rise to a syndrome we call self-exhibition syndrome. This is one of humanity's biological weaknesses. The need for self-display, approval, and social acceptance are fundamental elements of human nature. When a person does not receive social acceptance, the danger network in our brain becomes active. There are studies published in Psychology Today magazine about this, and similar findings exist in the literature. When a person does not receive social approval, the danger network in their brain is activated. This creates a constant state of anxiety and tension in the person. Therefore, when educating a child, one should approach through a reward-avoidance system. Because in a child's development, reward is the rule, and avoidance is the exception. In ancient times, punishment was the rule, and reward was the exception. Today, the opposite is true. Reward should be the rule, and punishment the exception. A reward does not necessarily have to be material. A smile, a kind word, an approving nod are also rewards. Each of these gives the child the message, 'You are valuable and accepted.'”
Following the highly engaging talk, Şişli Hamidiye Etfal Hospital Chief Physician Prof. Dr. Hasan Sinan Uslu presented a plaque and flowers to Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
The organized program concluded with a group photo session.