Üsküdar University Founding Rector, Psychiatrist-Author Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, met with his readers at the 42nd TÜYAP International Istanbul Book Fair. In the talk titled "Think Good, Feel Good, Be Good," Tarhan explained the inspiration for his latest book. Tarhan stated that the book adopts an approach aimed at enabling people to protect their health before falling ill. Emphasizing that the brain works more with emotions than thoughts, Tarhan drew attention to the importance of the integrity of emotion, thought, and behavior in mental health. Noting that developments in artificial intelligence and neuroscience formed the scientific basis of the book, Tarhan stated that a healthy and peaceful life can be achieved through conscious awareness. Following the talk, Prof. Dr. Tarhan met with his readers at a highly attended autograph session. 

The 42nd International Istanbul Book Fair, held between December 13-21, brought together over a thousand publishing houses and non-governmental organizations with readers.

In the talk titled "Think Good, Feel Good, Be Good," moderated by journalist Şaban Özdemir, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan explained the fundamental approach of his latest book. 

The talk attracted significant interest from fair visitors. 

"We Must Not Miss the Artificial Intelligence Revolution"

Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing the scientific transformation in artificial intelligence and brain function, began his words by saying: "Geoffrey Hinton, known as the father of artificial intelligence, received the Nobel Prize in Toronto in 2024. He is a cognitive psychologist, meaning a scientist working in a subfield of neuropsychology. This approach is a school of psychology that treats the brain like a computer. Psychiatrists conducting brain studies in this field were belittled, ostracized, and not adequately understood for many years. Regarding Hinton receiving the Nobel Prize, they said, 'He received this award because he persistently defended a minority idea.' Hinton first received the Turing Award in the 1980s for his discoveries on how the brain works. Turing is the person who developed the calculating machine, and that award is the most prestigious in this field. He later claimed that the brain operates with algorithms and presented evidence for the brain's algorithmic functioning. Following these studies, he received the Nobel Prize together with a geneticist. So, all of this shows us how the brain works. How we work, and a system that simulates the brain, mimicking this mode of operation, is being developed, which is called artificial intelligence. Currently, an industrial revolution is taking place in the world. We missed the industrial revolution that began with the invention of the printing press, but we must not miss the artificial intelligence revolution. Because artificial intelligence is truly a phenomenon that directly affects our future." 

"As We Unravel the Human Brain, We Will Treat Diseases More Easily"

Tarhan, explaining the relationship between psychiatric illnesses and algorithms in the brain, stated: "In our book 'Think Good, Feel Good, Be Good,' it is explained that our psychiatric disorders, fears, depression, or various difficulties we experience stem from algorithms in the brain, that disrupted brain algorithms need to be corrected, and how this can be done. These are discussed through concrete case examples in the book. For example, a person comes with depression, and in this case of depression, there are various fears and different thought disorders. We explain their counterparts in the brain. Then we show how the correct algorithm can be put in place of the faulty one in the brain, depending on how that person behaves. When the human brain is about to make a decision or encounters new information, it scans the past. It reviews all past information. There are emotional radars in the brain that scan, and there are also logical and cognitive radars that scan. Then, based on all these scans, it makes a prediction about the future. In other words, our brain actually works like a prediction machine. Prediction means quantum physics; the brain operates with quantum physics. This has now been revealed. I have a book called 'Psychology of Wisdom'. In this book, the neuropsychology of wisdom is discussed based on neuroscience. This approach combines these two areas we mentioned. As we unravel the human brain, we will understand humans, understand existence, and treat diseases more easily. Thus, in the treatments we provide, we will know much better what we are treating."

"We Cannot Manage What We Do Not Measure"

Tarhan, discussing the importance of a protective and preventive health approach, said: "The ideal is to pursue health medicine. That is, one needs to focus on what people should do to avoid getting sick. Our book 'Think Good, Feel Good, Be Good' stems from this very idea. This is a book that aims to ensure a person doesn't get sick before visiting a doctor. Of course, case examples are also provided in the book for those who are already sick. However, from these case examples, individuals can gain insights and advantages that enable them to treat themselves to a certain extent. Therefore, when you present the book's applications in the context of neuroscience's cause-and-effect relationship with human behavior, it persuades the person to accept treatment. For example, consider a diabetic; you cannot make them take the medication without measuring their blood sugar and showing that it's low or high. It's the same for a hypertension patient; if they don't see their blood pressure is high after measuring it, they won't accept the medication. Similarly, when you concretely show someone that something is amiss in their brain, they accept treatment. We already do this in our clinical practice. What's important here is to do this not with informal methods, but with scientific evidence, analyses, and measurements. Because we cannot manage what we do not measure. We measure brain functions, manage and treat accordingly. This is our fundamental goal in treatment." 

"Our Brain Works More With Emotions Than Thoughts"

Tarhan, emphasizing the decisive role of emotions as much as thoughts in human life, stated: "If you notice, we didn't say, 'Think good, be good.' We said, 'Think good, feel good, be good.' Because our brain works more with emotions than thoughts. In human relationships, information transfer, or verbal communication, is approximately 20 percent. Non-verbal communication is 80 percent. Verbal communication is the transfer of knowledge and information, while non-verbal communication is the transfer of emotion. Tone of voice, subconscious emphasis, chosen words, facial expressions and gestures, body language... All of these constitute 80 percent of effective communication. It is not right to neglect this 80 percent effective area and focus solely on thought. There is a book called 'Descartes' Error,' written in the 1990s. It was penned by Damasio, a neuroscientist and neurologist of Portuguese origin. What did Descartes say? 'I think, therefore I am.' However, humans exist by feeling. Today, we know that thought certainly exists and is important, but it is not enough on its own. Emotion is added to thought. That is also not enough; when thought and emotion combine, belief is formed. When we repeat this belief, it becomes a habit. If we repeat it for approximately six weeks, it becomes a habit. If we repeat it for six months, it becomes a part of our personality. It becomes automatic. This is similar to driving a car. When you drive from one place to another, you talk about other things, you are interested in other topics, but you drive the car automatically. Why? Because our brain has learned and automated it. This is called epigenetic learning. The brain produces genetic variants related to highly repeated behaviors, establishes new genetic connections, and begins to perform the behavior automatically."

"There is No Zero-Problem Life..."

Tarhan, discussing humanity's search for meaning and its ways of coping with crises, stated: "When a person encounters a difficult situation, whether it's an illness, an economic or social crisis, marital problems, or issues related to their child, they experience all of these individually throughout their life. In other words, there is no smooth, zero-problem life. This would be nice, but it's not possible, nor is it realistic. The human brain has four fundamental biological characteristics that differentiate it from other living beings. First, the human brain seeks eternity; it does not want to die, it seeks immortality. Second, the human brain seeks meaning. It asks, 'Why?' When information arrives, it questions, 'Who said it, what did they say, why did they say it?' – in other words, it seeks the reason. Third, humans seek freedom. Human desires and wishes are limitless, but their power is limited; despite this, they desire freedom. When you look at wars throughout history, you see that the vast majority were wars for freedom. Fourth, humans are relational beings; they seek connection. So, the human brain is a brain that seeks meaning, eternity, connection, and freedom. In such a structure, if a person can assign the right meaning to the suffering they experience in their search for meaning, they can manage that suffering. So, what does it mean to assign meaning to suffering? When we encounter a painful event, that event has a threat dimension and also an opportunity dimension. If you focus on the threat dimension, your morale will drop, and you will fall into despair. But if you focus on the opportunity dimension, you ask, 'I am experiencing this event, what did this event teach me? What do I need to do to prevent this event from happening again? How can I turn this process I'm going through into a trauma that develops me?' In other words, you are experiencing trauma; what is important is to find a way to turn that trauma into a developmental trauma rather than a destructive one." 

"People of This Era Should Be as Productive as Edison, as Wise as Rumi"

Tarhan, drawing attention to the balance between productivity and wisdom, stated: "People of this era should be as productive as Edison and as wise as Rumi. We need to combine these two. Because merely being productive is not enough; people also need to be peaceful. The capitalist system encourages production but does not encourage happiness. Ways must be found for people to be happy and at peace with themselves. We are trying to show those ways here. Indeed, if you look at my books, since 2000, I have always written books on people not getting sick, with titles such as 'Being at Peace with Yourself,' 'Psychology of Happiness,' and 'Positive Psychology.' I am a psychiatrist, and I am actually expected to write about diseases like schizophrenia or depression, but what is important to me is that people do not get sick. When I write on this topic, I feel more at peace conscientiously. If you think of medicine only in terms of operating, cutting and dissecting, or solely treating, this becomes a more interest-driven understanding of medicine. However, one must think broadly, think beyond oneself. Our Prophet said, 'The best among you are those most beneficial to society.' It is with this motivation that we operate." 

"Divorce is a Consequence, Not an Option, in Marriage"

Answering questions from the participants, Tarhan emphasized the importance of rational decisions over emotions in marriage in response to a question. Tarhan stated: "One must make rational decisions because feelings can mislead a person. Not every feeling that comes from within is correct. It is necessary to examine whether this feeling stems from fear or despair. In some situations, especially at such moments, there is a concept that allows one to continue the struggle, called 'exploratory despair.' Exploratory despair prompts one to ask, 'If I act correctly, if I behave properly, what percentage of the deterioration in this relationship is due to me, and what percentage is due to the other party?' Here, a third eye, an objective perspective, needs to come into play. Because divorce in marriage is a consequence, not an option. If a person says 'I'll leave if it doesn't work out' before getting married, they should not get married. This indicates a lack of marital maturity. Marriage is like embarking on an ocean journey or boarding an airplane. It is even similar to a surgeon entering an operation. Can a surgeon say, 'I'm bored, I'm leaving' in the middle of an operation? No, they cannot. Because there is a responsibility involved. The situation is the same in marriage. In the middle of a marriage, one cannot say, 'I'm bored, my feelings tell me to quit.' The person must first ask themselves, 'Have I done everything in my power for the continuation of the marriage? Have the necessary steps been taken, including couples therapy?' If everything possible has been done for the continuation of the marriage, professional support has been sought, but it still doesn't work, then it is possible to separate amicably for the sake of the children. Because there is no divorce from motherhood and fatherhood; divorce happens from being husband and wife. That is why divorce in marriage is a consequence, not an option."

"People with Deep and Meaningful Relationships Live Longer"

Tarhan, drawing attention to the effect of deep and meaningful relationships on human health, stated: "People with deep and meaningful relationships live longer and are happier. One of the most important studies demonstrating this is Harvard's famous study on healthy living. This study, lasting approximately 75 years, is a research with extremely high evidential value in the literature. What this study tells us is healthy and meaningful relationships. Nowadays, there are many friends but very few meaningful relationships. Very few deep relationships. One of the reasons for this is selfishness, and the second is deceit, trickery, and lack of honesty. Because where there is no trust, there cannot be a healthy relationship. In an environment where you cannot trust your spouse, regardless of whether it's a man or a woman, a healthy friendship cannot be established. So what is friendship? A friend is someone who can comfort you when you are sad, be there for you when you are troubled, and most importantly, speak well of you behind your back. Friendship is being able to speak well of a person behind their back, not to their face. These are what real friends are like. In marriage, there is a dimension of friendship, a dimension of romance, and a dimension of companionship. The first stage is the romantic dimension, the second is the friendship dimension, and the third is the companionship dimension. Marriages that reach the companionship dimension create deep and meaningful relationships."

"Our Brain is Like a Chemistry Laboratory"

Tarhan, discussing the biological effects of negative thoughts on the body, concluded his words by saying: "When negative thoughts occur, acidic chemicals are secreted in the brain. These chemicals increase sympathetic activation, raise vascular resistance, and cause stress. As vascular resistance increases, blood pressure rises, shoulder, neck, and back muscles contract, and fibromyalgia can emerge. Stomach and intestinal spasms occur, and various gastritis conditions are observed. Furthermore, because stress hormones are secreted, the immune system is suppressed. If this situation lasts for a few hours, the body can usually compensate for it. Because the parasympathetic nervous system kicks in. The vagus nerve, the body's longest nerve, scans the entire body starting from the intestines and sends the message 'Relax, the danger has passed, calm down' to the brain. When this mechanism is activated, the stress response decreases. Individuals who possess the ability to remain calm under stress can manage this process more easily. Because our brain is literally like a chemistry laboratory. We need to manage that laboratory like a pharmacist in the brain. Living, in essence, is being able to mix stress hormones and happiness hormones in our brain in certain proportions, with the meticulousness of a pharmacist, and pump them into the bloodstream. And good thinking precisely enables this."

Readers Formed a Long Queue 

Following the highly attended and engaging talk, Prof. Dr. Tarhan signed his books for his readers in the book signing hall. 
Readers who had their books signed by Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan also had the opportunity to chat and take photos with Tarhan.