Doğan Cüceloğlu

Mehmet Doğan Cüceloğlu (February 9, 1938 – February 16, 2021) was a Turkish psychologist and academic. He published over 40 scientific articles and wrote numerous books that examined the emotions, thoughts, and behaviors of Turkish people using scientific psychology concepts.

Early Life and Education

Doğan Cüceloğlu was born on February 9, 1938, in the Silifke district of Mersin as the youngest of eleven children in his family. Growing up in a large family environment, he stated that his tendency to observe developed at an early age. Losing his mother at the age of ten marked a significant turning point in his life, initiating a period in which he struggled with emotional difficulties and sought self-confidence. Cüceloğlu began his education in Silifke, completed middle school there, and later moved to Ankara with the support of his military officer brothers, enrolling at Ankara Atatürk High School. Influenced by his literature teacher, Cahit Okurer, he chose psychology over-engineering.

Academic Career

Cüceloğlu graduated from Istanbul University's Psychology Department and completed his doctorate in cognitive psychology at the University of Illinois in the United States. His doctoral dissertation, titled A Cross-Cultural Study of Communication Via Facial Expressions, focused on communication and the expression of emotions. After returning to Turkey, he worked as a faculty member at Istanbul University, Hacettepe University, and Boğaziçi University. With a Fulbright Scholarship, he spent a year as a visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley. From 1980 to 1996, he worked at California State University, Fullerton, during which he published more than forty scientific articles in Turkish and English. His research covered topics such as language, culture, communication, and the perception of facial expressions.

Return to Turkey and Societal Contributions

In 1996, Cüceloğlu returned to Turkey permanently and continued his work, focusing on sharing his academic knowledge with the wider public. He organized numerous seminars, conferences, and workshops for university students, teachers, parents, and business leaders. He authored 21 books that explored the thoughts, emotions, and behaviors of Turkish people through the framework of scientific psychology. His works emphasized themes such as communication, family relationships, child-rearing, personal development, and cultural values.

Psychological Approach and Legacy

Cüceloğlu’s approach to psychology combined functional and existential perspectives. In his scientific research, he examined the effects of language and culture on psychological processes, while in his popular works, he focused on topics such as awareness, self-actualization, and building healthy relationships. His contributions to Turkish psychology history stand out through his academic articles and applied psychology projects that reached broad audiences. On February 16, 2021, he passed away at the age of 83 at his home in Istanbul. Through his books and speeches, he left a lasting legacy in the field of psychology in Turkey.

Personal Life, Death, and Commemoration

Throughout his life, Cüceloğlu was married twice. His first marriage was to Emily, whom he met while pursuing his doctorate in the United States. From this marriage, he had three children: Ayşen, Elif, and Timur. This marriage lasted eleven years before ending in divorce. His second marriage was to Yıldız Hacıevliyagil, who holds degrees in Psychology from Bilgi University and Law from Dokuz Eylül University, with further master's degrees in Philosophy from Galatasaray University and Couple and Family Therapy from Özyeğin University. Together, they had a daughter named Umay Divi.

On February 16, 2021, Doğan Cüceloğlu passed away at his home in Istanbul’s Beşiktaş district due to an aortic rupture. He was laid to rest at Aşiyan Cemetery following a funeral ceremony at Levent Mosque on February 18, 2021.

In 2021, the Küçükçekmece Science High School in Istanbul was renamed Doğan Cüceloğlu Science High School in his memory. In 2022, Murat Park in the Akat neighborhood of Beşiktaş was renamed Prof. Dr. Doğan Cüceloğlu Park to honor his legacy in the neighborhood where he lived.

Books

• İnsan İnsana (Human to Human, 1991)
• İnsan ve Davranışı (Human and Behavior, 1992)
• İçimizdeki Çocuk (The Child Within Us, 1992)
• ‘Miş’ Gibi Yetişkinler: Yetişkin Çocuklar ("As If" Adults: Adult Children, 1994)
• İçimizdeki Biz (The Us Within Us, 1996)
• İyi Düşün Doğru Karar Ver (Think Well, Make the Right Decision, 1998)
• Savaşçı (The Warrior, 1999)
• ‘Keşke’siz Bir Yaşam İçin İletişim: İletişim Donanımları (Communication for a Life Without "What Ifs": Communication Tools, 2002)
• Başarıya Götüren Aile - Sınav Döneminde Ana Babalık (The Family That Leads to Success - Parenting During the Exam Period, 2006)
• Bir Kadın Bir Ses (One Woman, One Voice, 2006)
• Korku Kültürü: Niçin ‘Mış Gibi’ Yaşıyoruz? (The Culture of Fear: Why Do We Live "As If"?, 2008)
• Onlar Benim Kahramanım (They Are My Heroes, 2009)
• İnsan İnsana Sohbetler (Conversations Human to Human, 2011)
• İnsanı Ararken Damdan Düşen Psikolog (The Psychologist Who Fell Off the Roof While Searching for Humanity, 2013)
• Öğretmen Olmak (Being a Teacher, 2013)
• Gerçek Özgürlük (True Freedom, 2014)
• Derviş’in Aklı: Profesör Ahmet Dervişoğlu ile Sohbetler (The Mind of a Dervish: Conversations with Professor Ahmet Dervişoğlu, 2016)
• Evlenmeden Önce (Before Getting Married, 2017)
• Öğretmenim Bir Bakar Mısın? - Öğretmen’in Gücü Üzerine (Teacher, Can You Take a Look? - On the Power of Teachers, 2018)
• Var Mısın? (Are You In?, 2021)
• Geliştiren Anne-Baba (The Nurturing Parent, 2021)