Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, participated in the program organized by Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and Gaziantep Provincial Directorate of National Education. The "Life is a Choice" talk, moderated by Şaban Özdemir at Gaziantep University - Mavera Congress and Art Center, addressed the effects of psychology on academic life.
An exam perceived as a threat increases stress…
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that today, an exam, depending on the meaning we attribute to it, either turns into a source of stress or an opportunity for development, saying, “If we attribute the correct meaning to an exam, we see it as an element supporting our development. However, if we perceive the exam as a threat, this situation increases our stress level. University entrance exams or university students' exams are important examples in this regard. Similarly, in life, every choice we make from the moment we are born is like an exam. Life, in fact, consists of the sum of our choices. Exams should be seen as opportunities for development on life's journey, rather than obstacles that keep us awake.”
Even psychology has now become 'computational psychology'…
Prof. Dr. Tarhan, emphasizing the importance of learning mathematics in the program attended by approximately 2,000 students, said, “In recent years, developments in neuroscience have more clearly demonstrated that mathematics is a fundamental science. Interestingly, mathematics does not have a Nobel Prize, but mathematics underlies all sciences. Mathematical calculations play an important role in every field, such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Even psychology has now become 'computational psychology.' After quantum physics, many scientific disciplines became transferable to a computational dimension. Learning mathematics develops the neural networks in our brain. When we engage with mathematics, we establish cause-and-effect relationships and work on sequencing and connectivity. The brain is an organ that operates through connections between its regions.”
Try to love mathematics!
Stating that learning mathematics has a protective effect against diseases like Alzheimer's, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “If you study by thinking about its benefits, mathematics will not bore you… Try to love mathematics by thinking long-term. Human love and hatred are variable. A person can love someone they strongly hate, and hate someone they love. Our ancestors discovered the foundations of mathematics. We neglected it later.”
If you think process-oriented, stress becomes manageable
Prof. Dr. Tarhan also stated that learning a foreign language can bore a person, saying, “Learning a language can be difficult, but a person can be motivated to study when they ask 'Why do I need this language?' and find a clear answer to this question. The same applies to exams. When you struggle in an exam, thinking about the outcome increases your stress. However, if you think process-oriented, stress becomes manageable. If an approach like 'I need to study two hours a day and solve 100 tests to prepare for this exam' is adopted, focus is placed on a controllable plan. Since the outcome is usually beyond our control, dwelling on it increases anxiety. Success is something we cannot directly control; however, making a plan on the path to success and sticking to it is within our hands. Therefore, focusing on controlling the process rather than anxiety-increasing thoughts is healthier.”
Life is a risk, living is a risk!
Noting that three different approaches are seen in stress management, Prof. Dr. Tarhan continued:
“Some people are always complainers, always grumbling. They always cry. They always complain about something. Like sponges, they absorb everything, they collapse. They easily become depressed. Some people are carefree, thoughtless. They are egocentric. We call them Teflon types. They don't burn themselves but burn those who come into contact with them. These types seem comfortable but end up alone in the long run, they lose. When they lose their power and opportunities, they are usually not liked. Then there are rubber types. They stretch and return to their original state. That is, you will learn something from the stressful event you experience, and you will return to your original state. Exams are also developmental stresses in life. Therefore, it is good to take calculable risks. A person who does not take risks cannot learn anything. Life is a risk, living is a risk.”
Let's be afraid of attributing the wrong meaning to exams!
Stating that everyone can make mistakes in life, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, “One should not be afraid of making mistakes. You will make mistakes. Success in life comes at the end of struggle. When you look at people who overcome difficulties, if they can show flexibility in the face of those challenges, they learn something, they achieve something. Let's not be afraid of exams, let's be afraid of attributing the wrong meaning to exams.”
Developing emotional intelligence skills is necessary for psychological resilience
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also touched upon the subject of psychological resilience, stating, “To maintain psychological resilience, it is necessary to develop emotional intelligence skills. There is the PERMA model, which has five pillars of emotional intelligence skills. This is a method we use in psychological resilience training. The first is Positive Emotion. It is a positive emotion. One must see both the negative and positive aspects of events. However, our focus should be positive. People with a positive outlook give more balanced responses to events and manage stress better. Being able to evaluate events in terms of both their positive and negative aspects reduces the margin of error and ensures healthier progress.”
Doing work you love increases your productivity…
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the second element of the PERMA model is Engagement, or a state of “flow,” saying, “This means a person completely immersing themselves in work they love, not noticing how time passes. If you can focus on a subject in this way, it means you have successfully completed the second step of the PERMA model. In a state of flow, working does not feel like a burden because the person performs their work with love and passion. Truly engaging in and doing work you love both increases your productivity and allows you to enjoy the work.”
Individuals who pursue meaning and purpose in life strengthen their psychological resilience
Prof. Dr. Tarhan explained that the third element of the PERMA model is Relationship, stating, “Individuals who have strong social relationships, become part of a social network, and can communicate positively with people gain psychological resilience. These individuals can cope with difficulties more easily. However, some people can be fragile in their social relationships. Building healthy relationships is the third pillar. The fourth element of the PERMA model is Meaning. Individuals who pursue meaning and purpose in life strengthen their psychological resilience. We can liken this to a ship leaving port. If the ship's destination is not clear, the wind will toss it left and right. But if the destination is clear, the wind makes the captain's job easier.”
Transcending oneself…
Referring to Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “Maslow's pyramid states that for a person to achieve happiness, their basic needs must be met sequentially. While physiological needs (food, shelter, reproduction) are at the most basic level, the need for loving-being loved, trusting-being trusted, and being respected comes at the next level. Following this is the need for self-actualization, which has long been considered the highest level of the pyramid. However, in 2017, a researcher discovered that Maslow added another layer to the pyramid in his last work in the 70s. This is a layer called spiritual needs or transcendental needs, which the capitalist system overlooked. This need represents the individual's desire to transcend themselves and do something for society and humanity, to serve others. People who transcend themselves, leading a life aimed at benefiting others, become happier, more resilient, and individuals capable of making healthy decisions for the future.”
Small successes are needed for psychological resilience
Noting that the fifth pillar of the PERMA model is Accomplishment, Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated, “People need small successes to develop psychological resilience. However, these successes should not be limited to merely chasing instant pleasures. Watching a football match or listening to music is enjoyable, but it does not contribute to the individual's long-term development. Individuals who think strategically and long-term focus on developing themselves by investing in the future.”
Psychological resilience also means flexibility and endurance
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that having goals is an important step for self-development, and university education is a tool on this path, saying, “Success is not limited to academic achievement; life success must be supported by social and emotional skills. These skills are not taught sufficiently in schools; they are mostly acquired through experience in life. However, globally, social and emotional skills have begun to be included in education systems. In Turkey, with new educational models, the aim is to go beyond merely imparting information; to raise individuals who ask questions, produce projects, and possess mental flexibility. Mental flexibility is an important ability in coping with stress. People who can activate Plan B or Plan C when Plan A fails are more resilient and successful in life. Psychological resilience means flexibility and endurance; thanks to these qualities, individuals do not break in the face of difficulties, but rather develop.”
Competition is inherent in human nature
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that competition is an inherent element in human psychological nature, saying, “In our Anatolian culture, the teachings of Rumi and Yunus Emre offer a perspective: 'Possess wealth, money, property, fame, but do not take them into your heart.' That is, cling tightly to everything worldly, work hard, but do not place these at the center of your heart. It's easy to say, of course, but difficult to apply. If a person acts in accordance with high emotions and high goals, worldly things like wealth, property, and fame will not lead them astray. Therefore, these can serve humanity; our culture teaches this. For this reason, emotional intelligence education currently teaches this. The field of positive psychology was developed by drawing from Anatolian wisdom. This is one of the reasons I entered fields such as Yunus therapy, Masnevi therapy, and love therapy. I felt the need to write those books in 2012.”
There is no life without competition
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that working is essential for academic success, stating, “Work, but you will set your goal. Then you will work regularly, you will work planned. Attention and ability to concentrate are also very important. People who can concentrate on what they are doing can capture what we call the flow state and work for hours. They have very strong reasons for working. The current new generations think they live in abundance. Generation Z, social media generation. Internet generation… Because they are born into abundance and achieve things easily, it is harder for them to mature. For this, they need to raise their goals. They need to see what they have as opportunities. There is no life without competition. But competition is misunderstood. For example, competition is understood as competing with another friend, competition is understood as competition between companies. Competition is competing with ourselves. Not competing with others.”
Software needs to be learned like a foreign language
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that artificial intelligence is an important tool for change, like electricity or the printing press, saying, “Instead of opposing artificial intelligence, we need to use artificial intelligence in our own argument. That is, software needs to be learned like a foreign language. We should be able to do things related to software and incorporate software into our work.”
