Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, noting that fear is a natural emotion that arises when a person feels threatened, reminds that to cope with fears, one must first recognize them, and then develop solution-focused or emotional relief-focused approaches. Emphasizing that fear is a tool frequently used by dictators, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that parents can also use fear to legitimize their own leadership.
Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, evaluated the issue of fears we cannot escape.
Some call fear ‘psychic pain’ or ‘psychological pain’…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that emotions such as fear, anxiety, and distress arise when a person's psychological integrity is disturbed, similar to how pain is felt or muscle and joint tension is experienced when one's physical integrity is disturbed. He added, “For this reason, some call fear ‘psychic pain’ or ‘psychological pain’. Fear is a natural emotion that emerges when a person feels threatened. The first feeling of fear is the first emotion a child experiences immediately after birth.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the emotion of fear is genetically encoded in animals, saying, “For example, a lion is fearless in its own territory. But when it feels threatened, if jackals surround it, if it is left alone, that big lion will run away for fear of being injured. This is the emotion of fear.”
Humans have four basic fears
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that humans, with their free will, carry concerns such as self-development, progress, analyzing events, dealing with the future, and confronting the past, beyond eating, drinking, reproducing, and sheltering. He said, “These concerns give rise to the emotion of fear. As noted by the famous psychiatrist Yalom, humans have four basic fears: the fear of meaninglessness, the fear of uncertainty, the fear of loneliness, and the fear of death. These fears are common to all humans and are not found in other living beings.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the feeling of fear stems from the meaning people attribute to an object or event, rather than the object or event itself. He recounted that in Sri Lanka, people who chewed a plant known as "suicide grass" began not to fear death and could exhibit dangerous behaviors fearlessly.
Parents can use fear to legitimize their own leadership
Prof. Dr. Tarhan emphasized that, as stated by the philosopher Spinoza, fear is a tool frequently used by dictators. He cited Spinoza saying, "A political power uses fear as a tool of legitimation," explaining that dictators politicize fear to intimidate and control people, and that the same situation can be observed within families; parents can use fear to legitimize their own leadership, which he called an abuse of fear.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also noted that fear is one of the biggest obstacles to innovation, entrepreneurship, and discovery. He said, “The biggest obstacle to human liberation is also the fear of freedom. Humans fear being free, and this fear delivers them into slavery. True captivity is when a person gives up the struggle when they are afraid. Fear passivates people and prevents them from progressing.”
The feeling of fear should not be seen as a threat
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan pointed out that some fears, such as the fear of snakes or scorpions, have genetic origins, stating that these types of fears are present even in those who have never seen these creatures.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that the fear of heights is also a fear with a genetic predisposition, saying, “While this fear may not emerge immediately in children, it can develop over time. Although a definitive gene for its genetic origin has not been identified, it is believed that such fears must be genetic.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that individuals experiencing fear can manage it with the thoughts they form about it, and said, “The feeling of fear should not be seen as a threat.”
Fear is an important emotion for both humans and animals
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized that fear lives with fear, stating that fear is felt by animals, and said, “Fear is transmitted to other living beings through mirror neurons. When humans are afraid, the person or animal opposite them ‘reads’ this fear and reacts accordingly. Animals are also sensitive to perceiving fear, and for this reason, fear emerges as an important emotion for both humans and animals.”
Fear in children is shaped by parental reactions
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that a toddler might fear their own shadow but will learn not to be afraid thanks to their parents' calm demeanor. He added, “Children learn by referring to their environment and elders, and therefore they learn fear in this way. Parental attitudes are very important in this regard. For example, if a child watches a scary video with their parents, they might think that the things in the video will come out of the screen and attack them when they are alone. However, if their parents are with them and remain calm, the child will also remain calm. For this reason, fear in children is shaped by parental reactions.”
"Fight or flight" response…
“When people encounter fear or danger, they exhibit a "fight or flight" response. This reaction determines how the body will behave under stress. If a person can manage the danger and has the ability to remain calm under stress, they can manage this fear calmly,” said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, recounting that when the Islamic scholar Imam-i Azam encountered a long-horned ox while walking with his students and changed his path, and was asked if he was afraid, he replied, "If it has horns, I have a mind," adding that this is managing fear by using one's mind.
Controllable fears do not cause serious reactions in the body. He said, “In uncontrollable fears, pupils dilate, vascular resistance increases, and blood pressure rises. Breathing becomes frequent, oxygen levels rise, glucose mixes into the blood, blood fats mix, muscles contract, and the body enters a state of fight. If blood pressure drops, one may faint. Fear in its pathological state is anxiety and panic disorder.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that the ideas developed for coping with fears are quite important, stating, “Managing fear requires approaching the problem with two different methods: problem-focused coping and emotion-focused coping. In problem-focused coping, the person tries to solve the problem and develops behaviors that will eliminate fear. This is generally the most recommended method. However, some situations may be uncontrollable and unsolvable, such as the fear of death. In the face of such major problems, emotion-focused coping comes into play.”
Coping with the fear of death…
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that the idea, "If there is life, there is also hope," is important for coping with the fear of death. He noted that people can accept that death is not an end but a change of place, and that the thought, "If I have lived my life in an accountable way, why should I fear death?" can help manage this fear.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that people who know how to live and treat each day as if it were their last do not fear death. He said, “Some people are afraid of being forgotten in the world. However, a person who has contributed good things to the world should not fear being forgotten. The fear of aging is a similar situation; someone who lives by valuing every period of their life and gives each age its due can succeed in not fearing aging. In summary, to cope with fears, it is necessary to first recognize them, then develop solution-focused or emotional relief-focused approaches. In this way, fears can be managed without negatively affecting life.”