Introspection is a subjective method in psychology, which is based on self-observation of consciousness. This is a kind of introspection in which we do not seek judgment. This is where introspection differs from remorse. It is difficult to overestimate the importance of introspection in psychology. After all, only with its help it is possible to perceive reality as it is. It is the standard and guide for objective analysis of human behavior.
The Essence of Introspection
The method of introspection, according to A. Bergson, is based on metaphysics. Thus, the paths of our consciousness and intuition are opened before us. Retrospective philosophy relies on this method of self-observation in order to achieve a reflex release of the contents of consciousness and the establishment of a hierarchy of sensations in the overall structure of the personality. But at the same time, excessive digging in the mind, that is, an excessive tendency to introspection, can cause a suspicious attitude towards the world, which is quiteoften found in psychasthenics. Also, the replacement of the real and objective world by the inner world is inherent in schizophrenics.
The concept of consciousness according to Descartes
In human nature, two independent and opposite principles appear: the body and the soul. These beginnings flow from two different substances: extended and unthinking matter and unextended and thinking soul. In accordance with this belief, Descartes introduced two new terms: consciousness as an expression of spiritual substance and reflex, which is responsible for controlling the actions of the body.
It was Descartes who first formed the very concept of consciousness, which later became central in psychology until the end of the 19th century. However, Descartes avoided using the word "consciousness" and replaced it with the term "thinking". At the same time, thinking for him is everything that happens inside a person in such a way that we take it for granted. Consequently, thanks to Descartes, the method of introspection appeared in psychology, the concept of self-reflection of consciousness in itself.
Types of introspection
In psychology, there are systematic, analytical introspection, introspective psychology and phenomenological self-observation. Systematic introspection examines the stages of the thought process based on a retrospective record. This method was developed at the Würzburg School. The analytical method of introspection was created in the school of E. Titchener. It is based on the desire to divide the sensual image into separate constituent elements. Phenomenological introspection is one of thedirections of Gest alt psychology. This method describes mental phenomena in integrity and immediacy for naive subjects. The phenomenological method was used in the descriptive psychology of W. Dilthey, and later it was also used in humanistic psychology.
Psychological method of self-observation
Introspection is self-observation, the main purpose of which is to isolate direct experiences from all the connections of the external world through a special analysis. This method is chronologically the first in psychological science. It owes its appearance to the Cartesian-Lockean understanding of the subject of psychology.
The problem of introspection
Introspection in psychology is a method recognized not only as the main one in the field of studying human consciousness, but also being practically a method that allows you to analyze the direct behavior of a person. This belief is due to two indisputable circumstances. First of all, the ability of the processes of consciousness to open up to the subject and, at the same time, their closeness to an outside observer. The minds of different people are separated by an abyss. And no one can cross it and experience the state of consciousness of another person, as he does. It is impossible to penetrate into the experiences and images of other people.
It would seem that the conclusions that introspection in psychology is the only possible method to analyze the state of consciousness of another person are understandable and well-reasoned. All arguments on this issue can be combined with severalin short phrases: the subject of psychology is based on the facts of consciousness; these facts are open directly to the one to whom they belong and to no one else; which means that only introspection will help to study and analyze. Self-observation and nothing else.
But on the other hand, the simplicity and clarity of all these indisputable statements, as well as the entire conclusion in general, seems elementary only at first glance. In fact, they hide one of the most intricate and complex psychological problems - the problem of self-observation.
Advantages of the introspection method
The advantage of using the method of self-observation in psychology is that with its help it is possible to establish a causal relationship of mental phenomena occurring directly in the mind of a person. In addition, introspection in psychology is the definition of psychological facts that affect the behavior and state of a person in its purest form, without distortion.
Problems of the method
First of all, it is worth noting that this method is not ideal because the sensations and perception of reality of one person will be different from the sensations of another. In addition, even the same person's perception can change over time.
Introspection is a method of observing not the process itself, but its fading trace. Psychologists say that in self-observation it is not enough just to determine which moment has become a transition. Thought rushes swiftly, and before it can draw a conclusion, itis modified. In addition, the method of introspection is not applicable to all people, the consciousness of children and the mentally ill cannot be studied with its help.
Problematic in using this method in psychology is the fact that the content of not all consciousnesses can be decomposed into separate elements and presented as one whole. In music, if you transfer a melody to a different key, all sounds change, but the melody remains the same. This means that it is not the sounds that make the melody, but some special relationship between the sounds. This quality is also inherent in holistic structures - gest alt.
Introspection is having a conscious experience and reporting on it. Thus Wundt defined the classical application of this method from a psychological point of view. But despite the fact that, according to Wundt, direct experience influences the subject of psychology, he still separated introspection and internal perception. Internal perception is valuable in itself, but it cannot be attributed to science. But for introspection, the subject needs to be trained. Only in this case self-observation will bring the desired benefit.
