A lot of scientific research has been conducted on the concept of goodness in recent years. Oxford University also established a goodness laboratory named ‘Kind Lab’ to conduct research on the subject. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that the survival of humanity is closely related to the concept of ‘goodness’, said, “Goodness is an old, universal concept. If humanity is alive today, it owes it to the concept of goodness. That's why we need to teach this science of goodness to young people in our schools. Currently, a popular culture has emerged that teaches self-centeredness, comfort-seeking, and self-interest, even deeming it permissible to trip someone else to reach a goal. If this doesn't change, the world will go downhill. This is a very important issue in terms of social benefit.”
The object of goodness has become the ego!
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, giving examples from studies conducted at the Oxford University Kindness Lab, said, “The results from the Kindness Lab show that goodness is an older concept than religion; it is universal. If humanity is alive today, it owes it to the concept of goodness. The goodness that makes a person happy can only be selfless acts of kindness, unconditional acts, performed without expecting anything in return. In happiness, there are internal causes of happiness; happiness of the type 'I did this and I was happy, I succeeded and I was happy, I produced this work and I was happy' are happinesses dependent on internal causes. Happinesses dependent on external causes provide much more sustainable happiness to people. There is a concept of goodness within people. However, because this era glorifies self-centeredness, interestingly, it has transformed goodness into 'doing good for oneself'. People have a feeling of doing good, beautiful things. But today, the object of goodness has become their ego. When this happens, it becomes selfish goodness. For example, one does good to someone they love, a conditional good. It becomes relative, like doing good if they obey, and not doing good if they don't.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that a lot of scientific research has been conducted on acts of goodness recently and added:
“When a person does good for themselves and when they do good for others, they feel happiness. Acts of goodness done for others bring about sustainable happiness on both sides. That's why we need to teach this science of goodness to young people in our schools. Currently, a popular culture has emerged that teaches self-centeredness, comfort-seeking, and self-interest, even deeming it permissible to trip someone else to reach a goal. If this doesn't change, the world will go downhill. This is a very important issue in terms of social benefit.”
Peace is sustainable happiness
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that in our culture, happiness is not finite and sustainable happiness is defined as ‘peace’, saying, “Peace for us is being able to achieve a sustainable and endless feeling of happiness. To succeed in achieving this, one must do good. Doing good for a serious meaning, for a high value, allows a person to be at peace with themselves and causes happiness for both the giver and the receiver.”
Treadmill happiness
Tarhan pointed out that happiness is expressed as ‘treadmill happiness’, saying, “When you run on a treadmill, you make an adjustment. You adjust it according to your body, your needs, saying 'I will run at this speed, with this incline'. Happiness can also be adjusted this way. Regarding happiness, a person needs to be active, like on a treadmill. When a person adjusts happiness, they can change these happiness settings.”
The person determines the happiness setting
Tarhan continued his words as follows:
“In such situations, the happiness experienced by the person becomes sustainable. These are called ‘Happiness adjustment points’. This varies from person to person. A person determines their own happiness setting. If they make this adjustment well, they can achieve continuous sustainable happiness. Achievements such as wealth and career success are also happiness. But acts of selfless kindness, making people happy and joyful, show that life is not about give-and-take but rather give-and-receive. Random acts of kindness appear when you least expect them. There is a hidden psychological law in selfless acts of kindness. When you help people, it comes back to you as an invisible act of goodness. Among the public, it is said, ‘Throw it in the sea, if the fish doesn't know, the creator knows.’ This actually confirms it. This era is the age of scientific robustness. Since science supports it, we will talk more about the issue of doing good and making both oneself and others happy.”
Act of gratitude serves happiness
Tarhan, pointing out that the science of happiness and the science of goodness are mentioned together, said, “The state of goodness is not just about a person feeling good about themselves, but also about being good by making others feel good. It is about a person achieving a state of happiness and peace through social connections and selfless acts of kindness. This is possible by forming meaningful connections. One of the important steps in the science of goodness is to achieve sustainable happiness by forming meaningful connections.” Tarhan, giving examples of applications in the science of goodness, explained the acts of gratitude and kindness used in psychotherapy:
“Suppose a person did a good deed in the past. In such cases, we say, ‘Think of someone who did you a good deed in the past, find them and buy them a gift. If you say, 'You did me this favor in the past, I thank you,' and present the gift, you are re-adjusting the happiness setting with them, and that act of selfless kindness and gratitude serves a person's happiness and health. Politeness is also an act of goodness. In politeness, there is respect from love, not from fear. In the science of goodness, setting goals and planning the future are very important. Winds drag a person living without purpose like a ship that has left port without knowing where it is going. However, winds help a ship whose destination is clear. In such situations, life also helps people who have meaningful, achievable goals. When such a person sees someone wounded on the journey of life and helps them, in a way, that person experiences their own inner peace and also contributes to social peace. In such cases, it may seem like there is no return for them, but these kinds of selfless acts also allow a person to reach their goal more easily.”
Tarhan noted that doing good had become a habit in the ancient culture of Anatolia, saying, “It is no coincidence that the Ottoman Empire maintained social peace and survived for so many years. The habit of random acts of kindness plays a big role in this. For example, during Ramadans, someone with money comes and erases all debts from the grocery store ledgers. These are random acts of kindness.”