Introspection
Introspection is the examination of one’s own thoughts and feelings, primarily utilized in psychology and philosophy. It involves a process of looking inward to understand how one's mental processes function and to gain insight into personal experiences. The term originates from Latin, combining "intro" and "spect," meaning "looking within." Historically, introspection has been significantly shaped by figures such as Wilhelm Wundt, often regarded as the Father of Modern Psychology, who introduced experimental methods to study internal mental processes, and Edward Titchener, who expanded upon Wundt’s ideas in his own research.
Introspection is closely related to self-awareness, which develops from early childhood as individuals begin to recognize themselves as separate entities. Psychologically, self-awareness can be categorized into public and private aspects, affecting how individuals behave in social contexts and how they perceive their internal states. Self-introspection is a cognitive process that precedes self-awareness, enabling individuals to reflect on their thoughts and reasoning. While introspection is seen as an innate ability, it can be cultivated through practice, such as meditation or journaling, fostering deeper self-understanding and emotional regulation. Overall, introspection serves as a vital tool for personal growth and awareness.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Introspection
Examination of one's own thoughts and feelings is known as introspection. The term is used primarily in the field of psychology as well as being a philosophical precept. Introspection involves the process of looking inward, gaining an understanding of how one's own mental processes work. In this way, a deeper understanding of the self develops. On a philosophical and psychological level, introspection focuses on collecting information and data about how someone is consciously experiencing an action, event, or mental stimulus. The word introspection derives from two Latin words, intro and spect, meaning "looking within." Introspection is used in the context of entering one's own mental state to better understand something that is happening to the self at that current moment in time or in the recent past.
Brief History
Introspection has been defined differently by different psychology theorists. Wilhelm Wundt (1832-1920) and Edward Bradford Titchener (1867-1927) are two of the preeminent people associated with the concept and theory of introspection.
Wundt, a psychologist, developed a research technique dealing with introspection. His methodology is also called experimental self-observation. Wundt set up his experimental laboratory in Leipzig, Germany, in 1879. He dealt specifically with two types of introspection, which he determined as self-observation (selbstbeobachtung) and internal perception (innere wahmehmung). Wundt believed the process of self-observation was not scientific. He contrasted self-observation as a subjective pursuit, whereas internal perception he credited with not being reflective and was, therefore, more science based. Wundt's experimental laboratory allowed him to test his theories by setting up a mental stimulus and avoiding the possibility of time elapsing and giving way to reflection taking place. He wanted the people undergoing the experiments to record their response immediately to the mental stimuli provided, without any self-awareness. This would identify the internal perception inherent in the individual. Wundt developed a further concept, that of apperception. Apperception is the notion of the organization of our perception of experiences. This process brings into wholeness what would otherwise be a set of random senses or thoughts. Wundt focused on sensation and perception and how they pertain to psychology studies.
In America, Titchener set up a psychology laboratory at Cornell University in the realm of introspection. Titchener had studied under Wundt but adapted his understanding of introspection to focus on the notion of observation. He also expanded Wundt's concept of introspection by including memory, thought, and feeling. Furthermore, he allowed his students, who were encouraged to undergo training in the area of introspection, to record their feelings and sensations upon being faced with a stimulus. Both Wundt and Titchener centered their research within a laboratory setting, yet their approach differed in terms of experimental psychology, with Titchener expanding some of the methodologies.
Overview
Introspection as Self-Awareness. Self-awareness involves looking within at one's behaviors, emotions, and character traits. Psychologically, this would be determined as a state of being where one focuses on the self, paying attention to internal aspects of the self. The concept of self-awareness and its practice is linked to the idea of self-concept. Self-awareness begins to come into play at the age of approximately one year to eighteen months, when the child begins to see themself as a separate entity, with an emerging identity and needs. In terms of brain research, it appears that the anterior cingulate, located in the frontal lobe region of the brain, has the functional capacity to develop self-awareness. Moreover, brain imaging has shown that the more self-aware an adult is, the more this area of the brain becomes activated. Other brain imaging studies have been conducted on individuals with specific mental health conditions, like depression and anxiety, to investigate the impact of introspection-based activities on the brain. Participants were better able to downregulate their amygdala, the region that controls emotions, after practicing introspection. However, these results were inconsistent across studies.
Self-awareness comprises two predominant types according to psychology theory. These pertain to public or private aspects of self-awareness. On a public level, with a person who is publicly self-aware, there is a sense of awareness regarding how that individual may appear to someone else. This can occur during any social interaction, particularly when there is a group of people present. Public self-awareness may have a distinct impact on how a person behaves in order to follow the social norms that are in place in the society or group. The feeling of being anxious or concerned about the perception one person may have of another is part of the manifestation of this side of self-awareness. Private self-awareness is an attention on the self in a private manner. Feeling internally aware of a sensation, such as butterflies in the stomach in response to an upcoming event or the perception of one's own image in the mirror are examples of this type of self-awareness. Becoming self-conscious is a more extreme version of being self-aware, often resulting from an intensified consideration of private self-awareness.
Self-Introspection. Self-introspection pertains to examining how one functions on a cognitive conscious mental level. This includes the way one thinks and reasons, processing information accordingly. Introspection is considered to be a precursor to self-awareness, as only once one introspects can one become self-aware. The ability to perceive the self as separate from the environment and to envision and actualize goals based on an inner working and self-reflecting on what is most suitable and desired are significant factors. In addition, being capable of creating a moral and ethical campus and knowing how to differentiate between what fits those values and what does not, is a characteristic of primarily being self-aware.
Can Introspection Be Cultivated? The beginnings of introspection in a general sense become evident from the toddler age. However, in order to finely hone this instrument, practice and focus is required. Proponents of cultivating and nurturing self-introspection as an important self-help tool advocate spending a period of time on a daily basis in practice. This may mean a few minutes daily for one person or a period of an hour or a few hours for others. Finding a pleasant setting conducive to a meditative introspective space, wearing comfortable clothing, and positioning oneself in a relaxed position are contributory means toward emptying the mind of clutter and focusing on the state of introspection or being spiritually self-aware. Some individuals find journaling helps focus their mind and body on cultivating self-introspection. This practice can become part of a regular self-care routine. For those who prefer guidance, online and in-person courses are available.
Bibliography
Cherry, Kendra. "How to Boost Your Self-Awareness." VeryWell Mind, 9 May 2024, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-self-awareness-2795023. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Cherry, Kendra. "Introspection and How It Is Used in Psychology Research." VeryWell Mind, 4 Apr. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/what-is-introspection-2795252. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Cherry, Kendra. "Wilhelm Wundt: Pioneer of Psychology." VeryWell Mind, 6 Mar. 2023, www.verywellmind.com/who-is-the-father-of-psychology-2795249. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
"Introspection." Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 25 April 2024, plato.stanford.edu/entries/introspection. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Lilienfeld, Scott O., and Candice Basterfield. “Reflective Practice in Clinical Psychology: Reflections from Basic Psychological Science.” Clinical Psychology: Science and Practice, vol. 27, no. 4, 2020, doi.org/10.1111/cpsp.12352. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
McLeod, S. A. "Wilhelm Wundt: Father of Psychology." SimplyPsychology, 6 Oct. 2023, www.simplypsychology.org/wundt.html. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Seager, W. “Philosophical Accounts of Self-Awareness and Introspection.” Encyclopedia of Consciousness, 2009, doi.org/10.1016/B978-012373873-8.00071-2. Accessed 20 Nov. 2024.
Spener, Maja. Introspection: First-Person Access in Science and Agency. Oxford UP, 2024.
Stolte, Tyson. Dickens and Victorian Psychology: Introspection, First-Person Narration, and the Mind. Oxford UP, 2022.