Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, attended the conference organized by Erzincan Provincial Directorate of National Education as a speaker. Tarhan made important evaluations under the title “The Relationship Between Fear and Trust” at the conference attended by numerous educators. Highlighting that humans have an innate need for secure attachment, Tarhan said; “Humans have an innate need for secure attachment. Friendship contains decreased fear and increased trust; friendship is like medicine.”
“Friendship is like medicine; it contains decreased fear and increased trust”
Making evaluations regarding the relationship between friendship and trust, Tarhan said; “Humans have an innate need for secure attachment. Friendship contains decreased fear and increased trust; friendship is like medicine. It reduces fever but doesn't make you sweat, it helps with depression without sedating, it alleviates loneliness without overwhelming. A friend is such a medicine that it gives the feeling of love but not the pain of separation. It gives inner peace but not the fear of loss. Being able to find such a friend is very important.”
“Our people are afraid to get married”
Continuing his speech, Tarhan pointed out that balanced fear is protective; “Balanced fear is protective. It brings the survival instinct to the forefront. When people are in fear, they seek security. The reflex to gather around those perceived as strong emerges. A new fear has emerged among our people; they are currently afraid of getting married. This is because the family is ceasing to be a sanctuary and a safe space. Women fear violence from men, and men fear being held captive by women. Compassion and respect for values, the two pillars of empathy, are diminishing. A change is occurring in the concept of family.”
“The sense of justice is not an individual emotion, but a social one”
Tarhan, mentioning that the sense of justice is the cornerstone of society, emphasized that this feeling is not merely an individual emotion but also a social one; “Fear and law are very important. There are three indicators of the rule of law in society: First, being sure that no one other than the milkman or concierge will wake you up in the morning. Second, being sure that no irregular action will be taken if you end up at the police station. Third, being sure that the righteous, not the powerful, will win if you end up in court. If this sense of trust is absent, there is no peace, no matter how much wealth there is. The reason for migration to Europe is not wealth, but the rule of law in Europe. This has now been realized, and legal reform is being discussed. The sense of justice is like a social tent; it provides protection and makes us feel secure about our future. Where there is no sense of justice, people are left exposed. If there is justice, there is a tent effect. The sense of justice warms us like the sun, eliminates our fears, increases our freedom, instills responsibility, and provides an empathetic perspective. Therefore, the sense of justice is not an individual emotion, but a social one.”
“People live in an age of pleasure and speed”
Stating that the Covid-19 pandemic, besides its negative impacts, also made significant contributions to our lives, Tarhan said; “The Covid-19 pandemic disrupted five of our characteristics. Primarily, our psychological well-being was disrupted. We lost our freedom and physical comfort, our social relationships were negatively affected, and we felt death was near. These are our disrupted characteristics. But the pandemic also gave us 3 gifts. Free time became our greatest gift. It also provided an opportunity for psychological health and resilient education. People live in an age of pleasure and speed. We are currently experiencing a mandatory slowdown. The human and local values we had abandoned have re-emerged. These values are what make us human.”