Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that when people who inflict violence on animals are examined, the vast majority of them are people who have a good criminal license and are not mentally ill, and underlined that these people do not need treatment, but compulsory rehabilitation.
On October 4, Animal Protection Day, which was declared by the World Federation for the Protection of Animals in 1931, awareness activities are carried out for the protection of animals.
Üsküdar University Rector Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that people who commit violence against animals have a personality disorder and their empathy skills are not developed and that these people have 3 general common characteristics.
People with underdeveloped feelings of pity and compassion
Tarhan explained that these people do not have developed feelings of pity, that is, they are merciless, they act irresponsibly by not respecting the rights of others, they are capable of lying and are criminally inclined. Making an important warning on this issue, Tarhan noted that people who commit violence against animals will behave in the same way to their spouses and children when they get married, and therefore the society and their close environment should definitely take a stand against these people.
Violence against animals is increasing in the world
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that there has been an increase in incidents of violence against animals all over the world, "Education systems that sanctify the ego glorify the pursuit of pleasure. Young people who torture animals for pleasure, young people who take guns to school have started to increase. They are trying to find solutions by giving emotional intelligence studies in positive psychology education. In developed countries, there are examples of training with modules such as forgiveness, gratitude and compassion. Especially juvenile detention centers are important in this sense. There are also scientific methods in treatment."
Stating that the process becomes easier when the person who is prone to violence wants to be treated, Tarhan stated that in the treatment phase, it should first be determined that the situation is not caused by a disease. Noting that the feeling of aggression, especially in men, is due to hidden depression and can be improved with the right medication, Tarhan said, "When women are prevented, the language of emotional expression is crying, and when men are prevented, the language of emotional expression is usually anger."
Victims of violence in childhood are more violent
Tarhan added that those who enjoy violence against animals are usually victims of violence with multiple traumas in their childhood and said, "Accumulated anger releases pleasure hormones such as dopamine and endorphins in the brain. In fact, people who cut themselves do not feel pain and feel as if they have taken morphine. Unfortunately, learned violent behavior is corrected with reverse psychology. It is necessary to make them experience the natural consequences of their behavior by saying, "Do this, experience this as a result of this, paying the price is waiting for you"."
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that the reason why violence against animals is seen in people with severe psychiatric disorders is usually a perception disorder called delusional perception and emphasized that these people have impaired cognitive perceptions such as good and bad, friend and foe, reliable and unreliable.
Noting that they can believe that their closest ones have the devil in them, that they are enemies in disguise due to their lack of judgment, Tarhan said, "Most of the time, unfortunately, we see this in untreated cases, and these people cease to be dangerous when they are followed up with regular treatment with depot medications. A region of their brain works differently and produces erroneous thinking and people are not responsible for their behavior. Since most families do not know that this is a cerebral disorder, they waste time with non-medical methods."