Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who evaluated the people who do not react and do not intervene despite witnessing violent incidents, warned, "As a society, we are becoming self-centered in some issues." "Especially new generations are more conformist, weaker in empathy, more focused on their own interests," said Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, emphasizing that narcissism, which is common in Western culture, threatens young generations.
Zelal Topçul, a university student who was kidnapped from a minibus in Mersin by people including her relatives, was rescued by the police. The city bandits who kidnapped the young girl were detained. In Erzincan, the footage of T.H. torturing a cat he captured at the guardhouse in Erzincan horrified the viewers. In both incidents, it drew attention that the witnesses did not prevent the incident and remained bystanders.
Watching violence does not fit Turkish culture!
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that it is remarkable to be a bystander to the violence. Stating that the situation is not in accordance with the cultural behavior of Turkish society, Prof. Tarhan said:
"This Turkey is not the old Turkey, it is very interesting. Especially that soldier beating up the cat three days before his leave of absence and there are three soldiers with him. This is a situation that does not fit the cultural behavior of Turkish people. In such situations, we had a cultural behavior of being on the side of the oppressed, of being on the side of the oppressor. We didn't see this behavior in this incident, I don't know if it is a coincidence, but it makes me wonder if we have been culturally infected by the Western culture. Generally, we are a society known for our benevolence, for holding the hands of those who fall and not kicking those who fall to the ground. It is sad to see that these characteristics are somehow weakening. Especially after seeing this cat incident, I was struck by the insensitivity of other people. Why does this happen? Maybe it could be a coincidence, but I think we are self-centered as a society on some issues. Especially new generations, new generations; for example, if there were people around 40-50 years old in that environment, I think they would not have reacted the same way."
We are self-centered as a society!
Pointing out that the pre-90 generations had social ideals and social goals regardless of their worldview, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said that the generations born after 90, known as Generation Y, and who entered adolescence in this period were weaker in empathy and more self-centered than the previous generations, "Previous generations could take risks for society, for others. They were idealistic no matter what worldview they had. They could speak their minds openly. But we see that the new generations are more conformist, more self-centered. If these new generations become the general culture of Turkey, we can say that we are entering a serious degeneration here. The generation known as Generation Y, born after 90 and entering adolescence in this period, are weaker in empathy, more self-centered, more focused on their own interests, and have narcissistic personality traits compared to previous generations."
Narcissism affects the new generation
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that narcissism, which is a very common disease especially in developed countries, affects the younger generation and said, "This condition, which is defined as a disease, affects the younger generations. This disease of Western culture has an important role in the emergence of mental illnesses in young people and the increase in child psychiatry cases. We can say that the course of humanity is like the last period of Rome. In the last period of Rome, Rome was the world's only superpower. It was not external forces that destroyed Rome, it was corruption and internal decay. They indulged in luxury and entertainment and oppressed the weak and powerless. As a result, Rome slowly disintegrated. It is very hurtful to see this disease in Turkey while we are feeling this in the West right now, when we say that there is a disintegration in the West."
He cannot accept her saying no
Referring to the kidnapping of a young girl from a minibus in Mersin, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said:
Power should be in the rules, not in individuals!
"There is bullying here, cyber bullying is the scourge of the USA. Violence at school, sending weapons to school is a scourge of the USA. We often see these situations spreading like an epidemic in the world. The new generation is self-centered, they want what I want immediately, they seek pleasure. They want to have it easy. They cannot look at things from the perspective of others, they cannot accept that girl saying no to them. In the case of the soldier who beat the cat, you see that he broke up with his fiancée and took out his anger on the cat. These incidents show that egos are inflated in society. When evaluating these incidents, what kind of environment that child has grown up in, what kind of personality structure he/she has, if you raise a child who has grown up like the little ruler of the house, who is always used to taking, who is never used to giving, who is never used to sharing, this is what happens."
Stating that the power in a society should be in the rules, not in individuals, Prof. Dr. Tarhan listed his suggestions as follows
"In societies where the power is in the rules, people know that those who do wrong in such situations will pay the price, but he pointed out that if the power in a society is not in the rules but in individuals, these incidents may occur more often. Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, "Unfortunately, our cultural structure also feeds this. Power should be in the rules, not in individuals, and this needs to be taught. But this cannot be taught through conferences or lectures. This can only happen when elders become role models and set an example. There is more need for this. Let's raise the youth in schools in a way that teaches them to be good people. Let's educate them in that way. Do you know what Japan did? When the American culture started to change its own culture, it taught its own culture to children in primary school. Then the child learns physics, chemistry and geography. When we don't teach our own moral values and human values to children at the primary and secondary school level, high school and university pass. When we don't teach this, the child's foundation is weak."
They get it without labor!
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that today's children get everything more easily and said, "They get everything without any effort, parents think more than them in many events. Unfortunately, the new generation is mostly like this. Culture is alive, in order for culture to develop positively, cultural policies must be established and culture must be given as much importance as sports."