SELFINTROSPECTION

Patricia Marie R. Pineda

III-25 BS Psychology

Definition of Introspection

- An inward focusing
on mental
experiences, such as
sensations or feelings.
- The conscious mental and
purposive process relaying on
thinking, reasoning, and
examination of one's own
thoughts andperceptions.

- The process of directly

examining one's own
conscious mental states
and processes.
- Inpsychology, introspection is a
method of inquiry in which
subjects attempt to examine the
contents and processes of their
consciousness.

- Literally,
"introspection" means
"looking inward".

Brief History of
Introspection

The word
introspect
ion came
from two
Latin
words:
intro within
spect look

In 17th century
Rene
Descarteshel
d that all
mental states
are subject to
introspection;
that it is
sufficient to
have a mental
state to be
aware of it;
and that when
one
introspects,
he cannot be
mistaken
about what he
sees.

In 19th century
Psychologists,
particularlyWilhel
m Wundt and
Edward B.
Titchener as well
as those in more
recent times in
the area of
cognitive science,
have used
introspection to
try to uncover the
processes of the
human mind by
asking people to
recount their
thinking,
perceptions,
feelings, and so
forth, in a variety

Introspect
ion was
the
principal
method
of the
structurali
st school
led
byWilhel
m
Wundtin
Germany
andEdwa
rd B.
Titchener
in
America.

The
Functionalis
t school
represented
byJohn
Dewey
emphasized
the
importance
of
systematic,
objective
demonstrat
ion and
experiment
al testing
theory.

Thebehaviorist
s, such asJohn
B. Watson,
condemned
introspection
as qualitative
and unreliable
and opposed
the
consideration
of all notions of
subjective
experience and
questions of
consciousness,
emphasizing
only
observable
behavior
analyzed in
terms of
measurable
stimuli and
responses.

Importance of Selfintrospection
Selfintrospection keeps a regular
check on ourselfdevelopment. It
helps us to realize our goals and
what we have achieved so far
throughselfdevelopment
procedures.
Introspection
allows
human
beings to self-reflect, to assess
their
state
of
mind,
their
understanding of the situation,
and their planned course of
action.

Allows people not only to

check the validity of
their mental processes in
terms of their accuracy,
but also their moral or
ethical status.
The introspective ability is an
essential balance to our free
will,
allowing
us
the
opportunity to check our
thoughts and plans, and thus
to be responsible for them.

Helps ensure that our

actions and behaviors are
consistent
with
our
fundamental selves, our
personal
truths,
and
serves to bolster selfconfidence
and
selfassurance
and
the
vibrating frequency of our
own energy.
Periodic introspection as a
purposeful process is an
important and necessary
activity for us as leaders
because
it
keeps
us
centered, energized, and
balanced.

Your visions will become clear

only when you can look into your
own heart. Who looks outside,
dreams; who looks inside, awakes.
- Carl Gustav Jung

(Swiss psychologist, influential thinker,

and founder of analytical psychology).