A Deeper Dive into Introspection

The origins of our self-awareness, introspection, and empathy are topics crucial to understanding ourselves, our goals, other people, our relationships, and much more. Let’s focus on introspection.

Michael Franz Basch

“Intro” (intra) refers to the inside. “Spect” involves to watch, to look at. Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines “introspection” as a reflective looking inward; an examination of one’s own thoughts and feelings.

Introspection is a process. It is distinct from narcissism, i.e., egotism (an exaggerated sense of self-importance) or egoism (individual self-interest is the motive of all conscious action; excessive concern for oneself).

Introspection—looking into ourselves—can be wonderfully useful in so many ways: Understanding ourself and our actions and behaviors better, making changes, improving ourselves in a variety of ways, understanding others better and enhancing empathy, and so on.

However, introspection is not so easy. Looking inside of ourselves may cause shame or fear or anger which may lead us to sweep our observations under the rug. Many of our self-observations may be subject to various unconscious influences. And many of our self-observations may be influenced by outside opinions which are themselves more or less reliable or accurate.

The Power of Introspection

How might we best understand and use our capacities for introspection? One possible method may be to look at early development and see what capacities and attributes exist throughout the first several years which might be accessible to some form of awareness and introspection.

To understand the potential power of introspection, let’s explore the three information processing systems in human beings: Feelings (affects), cognition, and language.

• Feelings—such as anger, interest, and fear—are reactions to internal and external stimuli, contributing to our various behaviors, motivations, communication, and emotional development.
• Cognition includes thinking, memory, reality processing, self-reflection, learning, assessment of behaviors, and interpersonal skills.
• Language involves putting words and symbols to perceptions, ideas, and feelings, allowing for further communication with oneself and others.

Heinz Kohut

Feelings, Cognition, and Language

So, one might ask: Why look at feelings, cognition, and language? Great question.

Because these three information systems are what cause us to live, behave, and interact as we do. They motivate our behaviors and lives.

And if we want to understand ourselves, improve, feel better, accomplish something, or whatever—we are best served by considering our feelings, cognitive capacities, and aspects of language.

This brings us back to introspection. It may be that focusing on one of these areas will be useful. Or exploring all three. Or perhaps on some interaction between these processes…such as understanding one’s feelings but not being able to put them into words.

So, if we are going to increase our self-awareness and capacities through some form of introspection, it probably makes sense to explore them in greater detail—for instance when feelings, cognition, and language develop, and what enhances or impedes them.