- a way of knowing oneself, used in such scientific fields as psychology, philosophy and pedagogy. This method allows a person to pay attention to their thoughts, feelings, knowledge and skills, relationships with other people.

In meditation, you can perfectly know yourself

Definition of reflection

The term "reflection" comes from the late Latin word "reflexio", which translates as "turning back." This is a state during which a person pays attention to his own consciousness, deeply analyzes and rethinks himself.

It is a way of understanding the results of human activity. In the process of reflection, a person carefully examines his thoughts and ideas, considers the accumulated knowledge and acquired skills, and considers the completed and planned actions. This allows you to better know and understand yourself.

The ability to draw conclusions based on self-reflection is a unique trait that distinguishes man from animals. This method helps to avoid many errors that occur when repeating the same actions with the expectation of a different result.

The concept of reflection was formed in philosophy, but now it is widely used in pedagogical practice, science of science, various fields of psychology, physics and military affairs.

Forms of reflection

Depending on the time taken as a basis during reflection, it can manifest itself in 3 main forms:

1. retrospective form. It is characterized by an analysis of past events.
2. situational form. It is expressed as a reaction to events happening to a person right now.
3. prospective form. Reflections are subject to the events of the future, not yet occurred. These are the dreams, plans and goals of a person.

Retrospective analysis of the past in human life

The most common is retrospective reflection. It is used in pedagogy, when students consolidate the material, and in psychology, when analyzing past events to solve psychological problems.

Types of reflection

The reflexive position is divided into several main groups, depending on the object of reflection:

• personal, including introspection and study of one's own "I", achievement;
• communicative, analyzing relationships with other people;
• cooperative, comprehending joint activity to achieve the goal;
• intellectual, paying attention to the knowledge, skills and abilities of a person, as well as to the areas and methods of their application;
• social reflection, which cognizes the internal state of a person through how he is perceived and what other people think about him;
• professional, helping to analyze the movement up the career ladder;
• educational, allowing you to better learn the material received in the lesson;
• scientific, addressed to the understanding of human knowledge and skills related to science;
• existential, pondering the meaning of life and other deep questions;
• sanogenic, aimed at controlling the emotional state of the individual.

Professional reflection will allow you to understand what you have come to and where to go next in your career

Development of reflection

Anyone can learn to reflect. To start the process, it is worth practicing more by performing simple psychological exercises. They will teach a person to analyze everything that is happening around him, and to live his life meaningfully.

Interaction with the world

Reflection It is always a reaction to an external influence. Everything that fills the consciousness of a person came to him from outside. That's why the best workout reflection will be interaction with the world around him: with other people's opinions, criticism, conflicts, doubts and other difficulties.

Contacts with stimuli coming from outside expand the range of human reflexivity. Communicating with other people, a person learns to understand them, and this makes it easier and easier for him to understand himself.

We need to constantly step out of our comfort zone, otherwise we will not develop.

Chat with a person who has a different point of view on important issues than yours, or who lives the opposite way of life. Start a book that is unusual for you in a genre that you have not tried to read before, listen to music that you were not familiar with before, and you will be surprised how much new and unusual there is around you.

Analysis of one thing

Neuroscientists believe that a large amount of information received in the modern pace of life has a bad effect on the mental functions and memory of a person. With an abundance of unnecessary knowledge, new information is poorly absorbed and interferes with the thinking process. Therefore, it is important to analyze the things and relationships that occupy a person’s thoughts.

During this training, you need to choose one subject and analyze it in detail. An interesting new book, favorite series, favorite song or, say, communication with a new acquaintance may be subject to consideration.

When analyzing things, you need to ask yourself a number of specific questions.

When thinking about the subject of analysis, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Is this item useful for me?
2. Did I learn something new thanks to him?
3. Can I use this knowledge?
4. How does this item make me feel?
5. Do I want to study it further, am I interested?

These questions will help you get rid of unnecessary things in life. They will free up useful space for more important and interesting things, as well as teach you how to focus and filter out everything superfluous on your own, in automatic mode.

Exciting questions

To get to know yourself better, write down questions that worry you on a piece of paper. These may be questions that have arisen only yesterday, or have been of interest to you for many years. Make a detailed list, and then divide it into categories.

These could be questions:

• about past events;
• about the future;
• about relationships with people;
• about feelings and emotions;
• about material objects;
• about scientific knowledge;
• about spiritual matters;
• about the meaning of life, of being.

When asking questions to yourself, make them exciting and important.

Which group collected the most responses? Think about why it happened the way it did. This is a great workout that helps to reveal information to a person that he might not have been aware of.

How to stop reflecting?

Many people believe that the tendency to reflect on a constant basis is harmful, that it negatively affects a person, but it is a natural component of the life of any person.

A person's appeal to himself, to his inner motives and desires only strengthens the will, improves the result and efficiency of any activity. However, it is important that the reflective person perform this activity: reflection without action will not bear fruit.

Reflection should not be confused with ordinary self-digging: unlike the latter, reflection is a creative, not a destructive activity.

If self-development reaches the point of absurdity and you feel that you are far from reality, you need to get rid of it:

• reading books about self-development should not be just a hobby;
• attend trainings less and communicate more with people, walk, communicate;
• if the learned techniques and methods do not bring results, do not dwell on them;
• most of the techniques are businesses that are developed for the sake of making money;
• when you achieve your goals, leave the idea of ​​improving them.

Reflection Examples

In pedagogy

An example of educational reflexivity in pedagogical practice can be any school lesson. According to the Federal State Educational Standard, at the end of the lesson, the teacher must necessarily conduct a small survey in a symbolic, oral or written form. It contains reflective questions aimed at consolidating the material, at assessing emotions, or at analyzing why the student needs this information.

In psychology

Retrospective reflection is actively used in psychological practice. An example would be the consultation of a psychotherapist, when he asks the patient leading questions and helps him to analyze the events of the past. This technique allows you to cope with the problems and diseases caused by traumatic memories.

Analysis of relationships with relatives, friends or soulmate. A reflective person recalls events and situations related to a loved one, analyzes his feelings in relation to this. It helps to understand if the relationship is going in the right direction and what needs to be changed.

Communicative reflection is necessary to analyze relationships with loved ones.

- a way of analyzing a person's consciousness, allowing you to better know yourself. This skill distinguishes humans from animals. Interesting methods can be used to develop reflection: interaction with the world, searching for new information that is different from the interests of a person, a detailed analysis of one thing and compiling a list of issues that concern a person the most.

UDK 101.1:316(045)

Chekushkina Elena Nikolaevna

candidate philosophical sciences, docent

Department of Philosophy of the Mordovian State

Pedagogical Institute named after

M. E. Evsevieva

[email protected]

Elena N. Chekushkina

Candidate of Philosophy, lecturer

Chair of Philosophy Mordovian State Pedagogical Institute [email protected]

Social reflection in the humanities1 Social reflection in the humanities

Annotation. The article analyzes the role and types of social reflection in the humanities.

Keywords Keywords: knowledge, activity, cognition, consciousness, social reflection.

abstract. ne article analyzes the role and social reflection in the humanities.

Keywords: knowledge, activity, cognition, consciousness, social reflection.

The identification and study of the role of social reflection in humanitarian knowledge is determined by the crisis state of modern civilization, the multitude of social, political, economic, spiritual and other processes and problems that exist in society and sometimes require immediate solutions. Philosophical analysis of social reflection is the most important means of substantiating, clarifying and creating a certain personal program of social self-realization of a person; aimed at developing a person's desire for self-affirmation, the search for truth; is aimed at the formation of socially significant guidelines and clarification of the development of society.

Radical social changes actualize the growth of self-awareness of social subjects of various levels from individuals, groups to all of humanity. The study of the subjective side of social reality includes the study of reflection, expressing its complexity and specificity.

1The work was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science Russian Federation within the framework of project 2.1.2 “Solving complex problems of formation professional competence teacher and psychologist in the system of lifelong education” of the Strategic Development Program of the MordGPI for 2012-2016.

knowledge, identification, self-awareness, self-improvement of the individual, creative and dialogic processes, as well as communication.

In a brief philosophical dictionary, reflection is defined as “the principle of scientific and philosophical thinking, the appeal of thinking to itself, to its origins, prerequisites, forms; a necessary moment of any philosophizing, comprehension of the ultimate foundations of culture, being and thinking, a substantive examination of knowledge, self-knowledge, revealing the structure and specifics of the human spiritual world.

The Latin "reflecto" means "reflection", the late Latin "reflexio" is "turning back". In the most general sense, reflection is the process of understanding something by a person through study and comparison. In a narrow sense, a “new turn” of the spirit after the cognitive act towards the Self (as the center of the act) and its microcosm, due to which the appropriation of the known becomes possible.

Shchedrovitsky G.P. notes that reflection must be considered in the “context of transformation procedures various kinds activity". They understood it as a purely active position. The scheme of activity unfolds through reflection, its constructive principle being the links of cooperation.

Lefebvre focuses on reflection, which any type of specific subjects possesses: an individual, a group, an organization, a state, etc. According to the thinker, consciousness is always “egocentric”: it pushes a person to the center of the universe and forces him to take over ... all complete responsibility for this world.

AT modern science there is an intensive growth of theoretical and applied research of reflexive processes, a deep analysis of their theoretical and methodological foundations. Studies of the twentieth century show the importance of analyzing the reflexive aspects of social processes, the value of using the concept of "reflection" in socio-humanitarian knowledge. The concept of "reflection" acts as a special object of study.

Scientific approaches to the definition of reflection are represented by two directions: 1) "externalistic", determined by the development of science in terms of socio-cultural determination; 2) "internalist" is the opposite approach, focusing on internal sources development of scientific knowledge.

The “externalist” approach reproduces the traditional understanding of reflection, “illuminated” by Hegel, which focuses on understanding human consciousness as a self-determining phenomenon.

The insufficient development of the "internalist" approach is manifested in an insufficiently clear understanding of the mechanisms and degree of control of scientific self-consciousness over the development of science. According to N. S. Avtonomova, “scientific reflection, ultimately, is a “reflection of practice”, since the path of reflexive movement is “determined from the outside by factors heterogeneous to it (consciousness)” and that scientific consciousness is able to “consciously control the forms, conditions and foundations of the process of cognition".

The traditional approach proceeds from the fact that reflection provides the concretization of the goals of the development of science, determined by relevant socio-cultural problems. A.P. Ogurtsov expresses a valuable methodological idea about the need to overcome the traditional understanding of reflection on the complementarity of the meaning-giving and meaning-revealing work of consciousness, which consists in penetrating into the internal structure of activity and identifying its target orientation in the knowledge of the world.

According to L. A. Mikeshina, reflection is a form of theoretical activity aimed at comprehending one's thinking, one's own actions, as well as the thinking and actions of others - in general, culture, science and their foundations.

Social reflection is a very important function and mechanism, without which not a single subject from the field of humanitarian knowledge can be understood. Its result is the conceptual expression social theory, allowing to explain the essence, dynamics and driving forces of the social system.

Social reflection is a cognitive basis for adequate study global problems creating opportunities for effective search ways to solve problems that have arisen. It is the process of reflection of the individual about what is happening in his own mind; knowledge or understanding by the subject of himself; the process of double, mirror mutual reflection by subjects of each other, the content of which is the reconstruction and reproduction of each other's features; disclosure of how others know and understand the "reflector", his personality traits, cognitive representations and emotional reactions. Social reflection is the ability of a person to repeatedly refer to the beginning of his thoughts, actions, the ability to become an observer, reflecting on how you know what you are doing, including yourself.

S. L. Rubinshtein associated with the advent of reflection a special way of human existence in the world. He distinguishes two ways of human existence: reactive and reflexive. Reactive - this is the usual existence and attitude of a person to individual phenomena, but not to life as a whole. The reflexive mode of existence takes a person mentally beyond its limits ... a person, as it were, takes a position outside of it. This is a decisive turning point. Here ends the first mode of existence. Here begins either the path to spiritual devastation ... or another path - to building a moral, human life on a new conscious basis.

The desire to understand and realize one's own feelings and actions, to clarify the secrets of the world to oneself is found at all stages of the development of culture. Social reflection represents the ability to reflect one's own states, relationships, experiences, manage personal values. It "turns" the consciousness of a person to its own inner world: helps to realize and comprehend one's actions, relationships, values, constructs, if necessary, rebuild them, find new grounds for this.

The study of works devoted to reflection indicates that it is studied in the following main aspects: cooperative, communicative, personal and intellectual.

In the cooperative aspect of reflection, the emphasis, as a rule, is placed not on its procedural differences in their manifestations, but on the results of reflection as an activity of reflection. It is provided collective activity taking into account the need to coordinate professional positions and group roles of subjects. The important thing is the cooperation of their joint actions. Reflection is interpreted as the "liberation" of the subject from the process of activity and the "exit" to an external position in relation to it.

In the cooperative aspect, subject-subject activities are analyzed, taking into account the need to coordinate professional positions and group roles of subjects, as well as the cooperation of their joint actions. According to K. Kh. Momdzhyan, necessary condition The existence of society and individuals is the cooperation and coordination of their mutual efforts, which without their interaction and mutual influence, no sociocultural phenomenon is possible.

Considering reflection in connection with the dynamics of cooperative relations, G.P. Shchedrovitsky notes that for him reflection “in its original and essential existence is always a special cooperative connection between two acts of activity, a special structure of cooperation that unites cooperators and cooperators” .

The studies of I. S. Kon, V. A. Lefevre, V. A. Petrovsky and others are aimed at identifying the specifics of the communicative aspect. Reflection is considered as an essential component of developed communication and interpersonal perception. It includes thinking for another person, the ability to understand what other people think, which distinguishes it from the philosophical use of this concept. According to I. S. Kohn, reflection is “a deep, consistent mutual reflection, the content of which is the reproduction of the inner world of the interaction partner, and this inner world, in turn, reflects the inner world of the first researcher” .

V. A. Lefevre argues that "the origin of reflection and everything connected with it can only be understood on the basis of the relationship of communications between individuals." Reflection in communications and joint activities allows partners to predict and predict each other's actions, correcting their actions, influence the partner, penetrate into the depths of mutual understanding, or, conversely, deliberately mislead the partner.

V. A. Petrovsky distinguishes two types of reflection: retrospective and prospective. Retrospective reflection appears in the form of a retrospective restoration of the act of activity and leads to the emergence of activity. It is aimed at orienting in the system of conditions that contribute to a vital effect and the construction of an appropriate image. Prospective reflection is represented by “the dynamics of experiencing the need in the course of

activity and novelty in the system of objective conditions. The result of a prospective orientation is some objects that were not previously perceived "as means, ... now act as new opportunities for the action of its excess in relation to the original goal of the activity" .

It is believed that individual reflection (personal) is a secondary form: a personified and internalized process, which in its primary and actual form was interindividual. This interindividual, or communicative reflection, according to V. A. Lefevre, is preferred over classical reflection (i.e., self-consciousness), the latter is considered a later phylogenetic formation. For example, according to the general genetic law of cultural development, as L. S. Vygotsky describes it, the mental function appears on the scene twice: first on the social plane, only then on the psychological plane. In the context of the personal-value direction, modern researchers interpret reflection as a form of mental activity, which manifests itself in the desire for a constant analysis of one's thoughts, actions, experiences, emotions; it is characteristic of personal introversion.

Personal reflection pulls a person out of the endless stream of life and forces him to take an external position in relation to himself. This ability can be seen as a rethinking of stereotypes own experience. It represents one of the important characteristics of creativity. Reflection is a “mirror” that reflects the changes taking place in a person. Man becomes for himself an object of control; the main means of self-development, the condition and method of personal growth.

Personal development is usually considered in two aspects: a) when a person constructs himself, appropriating the values, norms, methods and forms of activity available in culture; b) there is an ability to develop oneself and improve the surrounding reality, transforming culture, creating something new. Both aspects indicate that the transition to self-improvement is taking place: a person has new potential opportunities. The emergence of opportunities is facilitated by the mechanism of reflection and reflexive abilities.

Exploring reflection in the context of the problems of thinking, intellectual reflection is singled out. At one time, N. I. Gutkina was against the allocation of this concept, justifying this by the fact that any reflection takes place against the background of intellectual activity, and each type of reflection presupposes the presence of an intellectual component. A. Z. Zak agrees with her, who also spoke out against this allocation, noting that reflection is a single universal action - both in the knowledge of the world of things and in the knowledge of one's inner world.

Intellectual reflection in the context of individual consciousness (independent thinking) can only arise if a person's thinking is focused on spiritual contents, dwells in them, contemplates them and cognizes them. One of the main conditions for the emergence of intelligence

tual reflection is considered a learning process. This basic condition distinguishes intellectual reflection from personal reflection (classical reflection) and from communicative (non-traditional) reflection, which often arise and form spontaneously in a cultural environment (without a person choosing certain patterns of culture).

In communicative - reflection acts as a mechanism for knowing another person. The object of reflection is ideas about the inner world of another person and the reasons for his actions. In the personal - the object of cognition is the cognizing personality itself, its qualities, properties, behavioral characteristics, the system of relations with others. In intellectual - the ability to analyze various solutions, find more rational ones, repeatedly return to the conditions of the problem. Reflection is a process of solving various problems.

Reflection occupies a certain place in any scientific research. The study of reflection is aimed at studying it, first of all, as a process. Scientific reflection is associated with the accumulation (expansion) and structuring (folding) of knowledge. To be able to accumulate, generalize, structure knowledge is a necessary stage of any research work. New directions of development will inevitably lead to reflection and again to curtailment.

The presence of two forms of cognition is associated with the internal and external positions of the cognizing subject: a) the subject, occupying internal positions, thinks, makes decisions, etc. But at the same time, he does not know and does not think about how he does it; b) the subject, taking external positions in relation to himself, not only thinks, but also observes how he thinks, does and controls his actions.

So, social reflection is a form of theoretical and practical human activity, which is aimed at comprehending one's own actions, culture and its foundations; the activity of self-knowledge, revealing the specifics of the spiritual world of society. It is not only the fundamental basis of philosophizing itself, but also a prerequisite for the constructive overcoming of obsolete knowledge; enables a person to form images and meanings of life, to design effective and block ineffective actions; allows you to manage your own activity in accordance with personal values ​​and meanings and switch to new mechanisms in connection with changed conditions, goals, and tasks of activity.

Literature

1. Avtonomova, N. S. Reflection in science and philosophy / N. S. Avtonomova. - Kuibyshev: Publishing House of KSU, 1983. 161 p.

2. Vygotsky, L. S. Collected works: In 6 vols. - T. 2-Z. Problems of the development of the psyche / L. S. Vygotsky / ed. A. M. Matyushkina. - M.: Pedagogy, 1983. 368 p.

3. Gutkina, N. I. Personal reflection in adolescence: author. diss. ... cand. psychology / N. I. Gutkin. -M., 1983. 24 p.

4. Zak, A. 3. Psychological features of reflection in children younger age: autoref. diss. ...cand. psychol. the science. Z. Zach. - M., 1976. 16 p.

5. Ilyin, I. A. The path to evidence / I. A. Ilyin. - M. : Eksmo-Press, 1998. -909 p.

6. Kon, I. S. Opening "I" / I. S. Con. - M.: Politizdat, 1978. 367

7. Brief philosophical dictionary / A. P. Alekseev, G. G. Vasiliev / ed. A. P. Alekseeva. - M. : RG-Press, 2012. 496 p.

8. Martynova, E. A. Philosophy in the system of humanitarian knowledge / E. A. Martynova // Humanitarian sciences and education. - 2010. - No. 2. S. 6061.

9. Mikeshina, L. A. Philosophy of Science: Modern Epistemology. Scientific knowledge in the dynamics of culture. Methodology of scientific research: textbook. allowance / L. A. Mikeshina. - M. : Progress-Tradition: MPSI: Flinta, 2005. 464 p.

10. Momdzhyan, K. Kh. Introduction to social philosophy / K. Kh. Momdzhyan. - M.: Higher school, KD "University", 1997. 448 p.

11. Ogurtsov, A.P. Alternative models of consciousness analysis: reflection and understanding / A.P. Ogurtsov // Problems of reflection. Modern complex research / otv. ed. I. S. Ladenko. - Novosibirsk, 1987.

12. Petrovsky, V. A. Personality in psychology: the paradigm of subjectivity / V. A. Petrovsky. - Rostov n / a: Phoenix, 1996. 512 p.

13. Reflexive approach: from methodology to practice / ed. V. E. Lepsky. - M. : "Kogito-Center", 2009. 447 p.

14. Rubinshtein, S. L. Fundamentals of general psychology: in 2 volumes / S. L. Rubinshtein. - M.: Pedagogy, 1989.

15. Philosophical Encyclopedic Dictionary / ed. E. F. Gubsky, G. V. Korableva, V. A. Lutchenko. - M. : INFRA-M, 2007. 576 p.

16. Chekushkina, E. N. Reflection as the basis of pedagogical activity: socio-philosophical analysis / E. V. Mochalov, E. N. Chekushkina // Humanitarian sciences and education. - 2014. - No. 2 (18). pp. 110-114.

17. Chekushkina, E. N. Social reflection and creativity: mechanisms of self-improvement / E. N. Chekushkina, E. N. Rodina // Theory and practice of social development. - 2014. - No. 12. -S. 16-19.

18. Yashkova, A. N. Subjectivity as a psychological prerequisite for the development of career competence / A. N. Yashkova // Humanitarian sciences and education. - 2012. - No. 2 (10). pp. 116-119.

1. Avtonomova, N. C. Reflection in science and philosophy / N. C. Avtonomova. - Samara: Publishing house of Kazan state University, 1983. 161 p.

2. Vygotsky, L. S. Collected works. Problems of development of the psyche / L. S. Vygotsky / Ed. by A. M. Matyushkin. - M. : Education, 1983. 368 p.

3. Gutkin, N. I. Personal reflection in adolescence: author. diss. ...candles. the course of studies of science / N. I. Gutkin. - M., 1983. 24p.

4. Zack, A. 3. Psychological characteristics of reflection in children of younger age: author. diss. ...candles. the course of studies. Sciences / A. H. Zack. - M., 1976. 16 p.

5. Ilyin, I. A. The path to the evidence /1. A. Ilyin. - M. : Eksmo-Press, 1998.

6. Kon, I.S. Open "I" /1. S. Kon. - M. : Politizdat, 1978. 367p.

7. Short philosophical dictionary / Ed. by A. P. Alekseev. - M. : WG-Press, 2012. 496p.

8. Martynova, E. A. Philosophy in the system of humanitarian knowledge / E. A. Martynov // Humanities and education. - 2010. - No. 2. P. 60-61.

9. Mikeshina, L. A. Philosophy of science: Contemporary epistemology. Scientific knowledge in the dynamics of culture. Scientific research methodology: textbook. manual / L. A. Mikeshin. - M. : Progress-Tradition: MSI: flint, 2005. 464 p.

10. Momjian, K. H. An Introduction to social philosophy / K. H. Momjian. - M. : Higher school, KD University, 1997. 448 p.

11. Ogurtsov, A. P. Alternative models of analysis of consciousness: reflection and understanding / A. P. Ogurtsov // Problems of reflection. Modern comprehensive study of/resp. Ed. I. C. Ladenko. - Novosibirsk, 1987.

12. Petrovsky, V. A. Personality psychology: the paradigm of subjectivity / V. A. Petrovsky. - Rostov n/D: Phoenix, 1996. 512 p.

13. Reflexive approach: from methodology to practice / edited by C. E. Lepskaya. - M. : Cogito Center, 2009. 447p.

14. Rubinstein, S. L. Fundamentals of General psychology: in 2 t. / S. L. Rubinstein. - M. : Education, 1989.

15. Encyclopedic dictionary of philosophy / edited by E. F. Gubsky, Century, Korableva, C. A. Lutchenko. - M. : INFRA-M, 2007. 576p.

16. Chekushkina, E. N. Reflection as the basis of pedagogical activity: social-philosophical analysis / E. C. Mochalov, E. N. Chekushkina // Humanities and education. - 2014. - No. 2 (18). P. 110-114.

17. Chekushkina, E. N. Social reflection and creativity: the mechanisms of self-improving / E. N. Chekushkina, E. N. Rodina // Theory and practice of social development. - 2014. - No. 12. P. 16-19.

18. Yashkova, A. N. Subjectivity as a psychological prerequisite for the development of career competencies / A. N. Yashkova // Humanities and education. -2012. - No. 2 (10). P. 116-119.

Reflection is understood as a skill that allows not only to control the focus of attention, but also to be aware of one's own thoughts, sensations and general state. Thanks to reflection, a person has the opportunity to observe himself from the outside and see himself through the eyes of the people who surround him. Reflection in psychology implies any encroachments of the individual aimed at introspection. They can manifest themselves in the assessment of their actions, thoughts and ongoing events. The depth of reflection will depend on how educated a person is and knows how to control himself.

Psychological content

Reflection in psychology occupies an important place in the integral structure of personality, as evidenced by a wide range of features and its versatility. Similar processes take place in almost every sphere of psychological activity.

Reflection in thinking is proof that a person can control his thoughts and actions, and his mental activity is productive.

Philosophical aspect

Many philosophers are sure that reflection in psychology is one of the sources of knowledge. Thought itself becomes its subject. For the mechanism to work effectively, objectification must be present. It is necessary to compare the results with the methods and process of reflective representation.

The role of this phenomenon

Reflection is necessary in order for a person to be able to establish and regulate adequate requirements for himself, which are based on the criteria established from the outside, and the specifics of the object itself. The concept of reflection in psychology makes it possible to perform introspection, introspection and self-reflection.

Types of reflection

Due to the fact that experts cannot come to a unified approach in the study of this phenomenon, there are several types and classifications:

• Cooperative. In this case, reflection is understood as the "liberation" of the subject and his "exit" to a new position in relation to past activities. The emphasis is on results, not on the procedural subtleties of the mechanism.
• Communicative. Reflection is the most important component of the harmonious development of communication and interpersonal perception. This indicator is most often used to address issues that are related to problems of perception and empathy in communication between people. The functions of the phenomenon in this case are as follows: regulatory, cognitive and developmental. They are expressed in the change of ideas about the object to more adequate in this situation.
• Personal. It gives you the opportunity to study your own actions, analyze images and the inner "I". It is used in cases where self-disintegration of the personality takes place, correction of self-consciousness and the construction of a new “I” are required.
• Intellectual. The object is knowledge related to a certain subject, and ways of interacting with it. This type of reflection is used in engineering and
• Existential. The object is the deep meanings of the personality.
• Sanogenic. The main function is considered to be the regulation of emotional states and the reduction of suffering and experiences.
• Reflection in Implied a complex system relations that arise in the process of interaction of individuals.

Forms of the phenomenon

It is customary to consider reflection in three main forms, which differ depending on the functions that are performed:

• Situational. It ensures the involvement of the subject in what is happening and encourages him to analyze and comprehend "here and now".
• Retrospective. It is used to evaluate those actions and events that have already occurred. This form is necessary for structuring and better assimilation of experience, awareness of one's own mistakes and weaknesses. Using retrospective reflection, you can identify the reasons for your failures and defeats.
• Promising. It is used to think about future activities, involves planning and determining constructive ways of influencing.

Why reflection is useful

Experts are sure that it is reflection in psychology that is considered a generator of new ideas. It allows you to build a realistic picture and process the information received. As a result of introspection, a person changes and improves himself. The reflexive mechanism allows you to transform implicit thoughts into explicit ones and gain deeper knowledge.

This phenomenon concerns all spheres of human life, including professional. The concept of reflection in psychology is necessary in order to learn to take control of your own life and not go with the flow. People who are not familiar with this phenomenon do not know how to organize their actions and clearly understand where to go next.

It is very important not to confuse reflection with self-awareness. It implies self-orientation. Reflection focuses on what has already happened. It is necessary for every person, especially those people who are engaged in intellectual work and have interpersonal contact and group relationships.

How to train and develop reflection

It has long been no secret that reflection is very important in which it is helped to develop, it must be done regularly, only then they will bring results. This will help you change for the better and learn to adequately perceive your own actions and thoughts.

• Action analysis. After making decisions or difficult situations, you need to think about your actions and look at yourself from the outside. It is necessary to think, perhaps there was another way out, more successful under the circumstances. You also need to analyze what conclusions can be drawn and what mistakes should not be repeated next time. This will help to understand what reflection is in psychology. The examples may be different, but the purpose of the exercises is the same: to realize the fact of one's own uniqueness and be able to control one's actions.
• Assessment of the day. A person should make it a habit at the end of each day to analyze all the events and mentally “drive away” the episodes that have occurred in memory. You should focus on those that cause a feeling of dissatisfaction. It is worth looking at them through the eyes of an uninterested observer, perhaps this will help to identify your own shortcomings.
• Communication with people. Social reflection in psychology implies communication with people and constant improvement of one's own. Periodically, it is necessary to check the opinion about a person that has developed with reality. For open people, this will not be a problem, but a closed person will have to work harder on himself.

It is worth expanding the circle of acquaintances and talking with people who have a separate and radically different point of view. Attempts to understand such a person cause reflection to become more active. This makes the mind more flexible and vision broader. As a result of such an exercise, a person will learn to make informed and informed decisions, as well as to see different ways to solve a problem.

Social reflection in psychology is quite powerful weapon which helps you better understand yourself and others. Over time, the ability to predict other people's thoughts and predict actions appears.

Signs of reflection

Psychologists identify several fundamental features of such a phenomenon as reflection:

• Depth. It is characterized by the degree of penetration into the inner world of a person, which already contains the worlds of other people.
• Extensiveness. This indicator reflects the number of people whose worlds are considered.

What are the processes involved in reflection?

The ability to regulate, control and manage your thinking is impossible without processes such as evaluation.

With the help of analysis, you can break all the information into blocks and structure it. Equally important is the definition of the main and the establishment of a relationship with the secondary. Synthesis helps to combine all the elements and get a whole new object. Evaluation makes it possible to determine the importance of the material and the goal itself. The criteria may differ, they are determined depending on the situation.

Types of hearing

Not every person knows what the main meaning is and what this definition is fraught with. Reflection in psychology is the ability to manage oneself. Listening helps to develop this skill:

• is active silence. The technique includes encouraging phrases and gestures, as well as those that will encourage the person to open up.
• Reflective listening is feedback from the speaker. It can be achieved using the following techniques: clarifying, paraphrasing, reflecting feelings and summarizing.

A necessary condition and an obligatory component of research activity is reflection. At present, reflection is interpreted, on the one hand, as a process of comprehending something with the help of study and comparison, on the other hand, as a principle of human thinking, directing it to comprehend and realize its own forms and prerequisites, which makes it possible to appropriate what is known. The rational meaning of reflection in social cognition is also associated with the awareness of the hidden, implicit premises of scientific knowledge.

Synthesizing various approaches to understanding reflection, it can be argued that in social cognition, it is aimed, on the one hand, at understanding the scientists of their own research activities (internal reflection), on the other hand, at comprehending the research activities of other scientists, representing a kind of reflection on reflection. (external reflection). Internal reflection is associated with the formation of conscious constructive attitudes of a scientist in scientific research. Internal reflection, being a manifestation of a rational character cognitive activity, is associated with the identification of the conditions for posing a scientific problem, its awareness, the definition of the purpose and objectives of the study, the choice of its methodological foundations, and the search for methods for solving specific research problems. In this regard, internal reflection is inalienable from the practical scientific problem situation in which it arises (Fig. 1.1).

External reflection in social cognition is work with existing research practices related to the production of new scientific knowledge. External reflection is a condition and a means of critical analysis of research activities in the social sciences. Such an idea of ​​external reflection turns out to be associated with the image of a specialized conceptual activity for the study of research practices from the standpoint of a certain ideal of research activity adopted in the scientific community. It follows that if internal reflection is an indicator of the scientific character of social research, then external reflection is an indicator of the level of development of social sciences. In other words, the development of the social sciences up to a certain time may not involve external reflection. The need for it especially increases during a crisis state of society.

Rice. 1.1.

sciences or in a situation of heightened competition between their research paradigms.

The significance of reflection in the social sciences is due to the fact that cognitive activity in them, as a rule, is formed on the basis of cultural and historically emerged and already proven scientific traditions, requirements, skills, techniques and methods of scientific research. At the same time, it is constantly associated with the formulation of new problems, the search for new ways and means of studying social reality, the development of more advanced means of scientific social research, the formation of new ideas, even in cases where the solution to the problem seemed to have already been found. Therefore, reflection in social research is a methodological activity, and cognitive activity in the social sciences is undergoing constant changes due to the innovative orientation of their methodological searches.

The cognitive effectiveness of external and internal reflection in the social sciences depends on the level of development of methodological consciousness in them. Methodological consciousness in the social sciences constitutes such an intellectual sphere in which there is an understanding of the ways, methods and forms of the production of scientific knowledge and its optimal organization. Methodological consciousness is an ideal construction of real research actions of a scientist and a system of ideas formed on its basis about the cognitive strategy of social research, methods of its implementation and rational requirements for the final scientific result.

Methodological consciousness in the social sciences contains many interconnected heterogeneous components that ensure its cognitive effectiveness in particular cognitive situations. Two levels of methodological consciousness can be distinguished. The first - experienced level - is a set of meaningful elements that were developed mainly by means of scientific intuition in the process of research activities and understanding of their results, fixed in the form of a direct methodological experience of a scientist. The conceptual coherence of these elements is low and is based mainly on operational concepts. The second level of methodological consciousness covers many theoretically meaningful elements that were developed in the course of mastering the results of professional activity, represented by methodological studies in the social sciences. In the methodological consciousness, they are fixed in mental structures, apperceptive forms, conceptual constructions and theoretical models that generalize the experience of social research as a whole.

The modus of methodological consciousness is methodological knowledge, the referent of which is practically isolated and discretely fixed components of research activity and the logic of its deployment. Methodological knowledge is differentiated, determined by the fundamental ideas, principles and categories by which it is systematized. As a result, theoretical systems of various conceptual content are constructed that have a significant impact on the formation of styles of scientific thinking in the social sciences.

In real research practice, the methodological consciousness of a scientist includes elements that have been formed on the basis of, firstly, the researcher's personal cognitive experience; secondly, the group experience acquired by him, which was acquired as a result of the cognitive activity of the scientific community to which the scientist belongs; thirdly, the accumulated experience of social cognition, fixed in the paradigms of scientific activity, tested by scientific practice and fixed in certain models of social research.

In the process of social cognition, methodological consciousness, orienting and organizing research activities, performs a project function, anticipating the upcoming cognitive actions of the researcher and deploying a system of cognitive operations aimed at interacting with the subject of research and resulting in scientific knowledge. The function of the methodological consciousness of a scientist is to control research actions from the standpoint of the compliance of these actions with methodological standards accepted in the scientific community, as well as the authenticity of cognitive means and their expediency.

Methodological knowledge is the result of a special methodological study. Its problematics and direction largely depend on the understanding of the nature of methodological activity in the social sciences, i.e. those fundamental grounds that allow us to single it out as a specific area of ​​scientific research. These foundations, which give a purposeful character to methodological activity in the social sciences, are not in the activity itself, but in the sphere of ideas about its subject. At the same time, it should be noted that understanding the nature of methodological activity in the social sciences is largely hampered by the fact that in the scientific literature there are various interpretations concept itself methodology and, accordingly, different ideas about what is the methodology of the social sciences, the methodology of social research.

Reading time: 2 min

Reflection is a form of an individual's theoretical activity that reflects a view or expresses a turning back through the comprehension of one's personal actions, as well as their laws. The internal reflection of the personality reflects the activity of self-knowledge, revealing the specifics of the spiritual world of the individual. The content of reflection is determined by object-sensory activity. The concept of reflection includes awareness of the objective world of culture, and in this sense, reflection is a method of philosophy, and dialectics acts as a reflection of the mind.

Reflection in psychology is an appeal of the subject to himself, to his consciousness, to the products of his own activity, or some kind of rethinking. The traditional concept includes the content, as well as the functions of one's own consciousness, which are part of personal structures (interests, values, motives), include thinking, behavioral patterns, decision-making mechanisms, perception, emotional response.

Types of reflection

A. Karpov, as well as other researchers, identified the following types of reflection: situational, retrospective, prospective.

Situational reflection is motivation and self-assessment that ensures the involvement of the subject in the situation, as well as an analysis of what is happening and an understanding of the elements of analysis. This type is characterized by the ability to correlate one's own actions with the objective situation, the ability to control and coordinate the elements of activity depending on changing conditions.

Retrospective reflection of a personality is an analysis of events, activities performed in the past.

Prospective reflection is thinking about upcoming activities, planning, presenting the progress of activities, choosing the most effective ways to implement it, predicting possible results.

Other researchers distinguish elementary, scientific, philosophical, psychological, social reflection. The purpose of the elementary is the consideration, as well as the analysis by the individual of his own actions and knowledge. This type is characteristic of every individual, since everyone thought about the causes of mistakes and failures in order to change ideas about the environment and the world, correct mistakes, and prevent them in the future. This state allows you to learn from personal mistakes.

Scientific reflection is focused on the critical study of scientific methods, the study of scientific knowledge, on the methods of obtaining scientific results, on the procedures for substantiating scientific laws and theories. This state finds expression in the methodology of scientific knowledge, logic, psychology of scientific creativity.

Social reflection is the understanding of another individual through reflection for him. It is referred to as internal betrayal. The representation of what others think of an individual is important in social cognition. This is the knowledge of the other (but I think) as they think of me and the knowledge of myself supposedly through the eyes of the other. A wide circle of communication allows a person to know a lot about himself.

Philosophical reflection

The highest form is philosophical reflection, which includes reflections and reasoning about the foundations of human culture, as well as the meaning of human existence.

Socrates considered the state of reflection to be the most important means of self-knowledge of the individual, as well as the basis of spiritual perfection. It is the ability of critical self-assessment that is the most important distinctive feature individual as a rational person. Thanks to this state, human delusions and prejudices are eliminated, and the spiritual progress of mankind becomes real.

Pierre Teilhard de Chardin noted that the reflective state distinguishes man from animals and allows the individual not only to know something, but also makes it possible to know about his knowledge.

Ernst Cassirer believed that reflection is expressed in the ability to isolate certain stable elements from all sensory phenomena in order to isolate and focus attention on them.

Psychological reflection

One of the first in psychology to consider the reflexive state was A. Busemann, who interpreted it as the transfer of experiences from the outside world to oneself.

Psychological studies of reflection are twofold:

The way the researcher understands the grounds, as well as the results of the study;

The basic property of the subject, in which awareness occurs, as well as the regulation of one's life.

Reflection in psychology is a reflection of a person, the purpose of which is consideration, as well as an analysis of one's own activity, oneself, one's own states, past events, actions.

The depth of the state is related to the interest of the individual in this process, as well as the ability of his attention to be allocated to a lesser or greater extent, which is influenced by education, ideas about morality, the development of moral feelings, and the level of self-control. It is believed that individuals of different professional and social groups are different in the use of the reflective position. This property is considered as a conversation or a kind of dialogue with oneself, as well as the ability of an individual to self-development.

Reflection is a thought that has a focus on thought or on itself. It can be seen as a secondary genetic phenomenon arising from practice. This is the exit of practice beyond the boundaries of oneself, as well as the focus of practice on oneself. The psychology of creative thinking and creativity interprets this process as a rethinking and understanding by the subject of the stereotypes of experience.

The study of the relationship between the individuality of the individual, the reflective state, creativity, allows us to talk about the problems of the creative uniqueness of the individual, as well as its development. E. Husserl, a classic of philosophical thought, noted that the reflexive position is a way of seeing, which is transformed from the direction of the object.

The psychological characteristics of this state include the ability to change the content of consciousness, as well as to change the structures of consciousness.

Understanding reflection

Domestic psychology distinguishes four approaches in studying the understanding of reflection: cooperative, communicative, intellectual (cognitive), personal (general psychological).

Cooperative is the analysis of subject-subject activities, the design of collective activities aimed at coordinating professional positions, as well as group roles of subjects or cooperation of joint actions.

Communicative is a component of developed communication, as well as interpersonal perception, as a specific quality of cognition of an individual by an individual.

Intellectual or cognitive is the ability of the subject to analyze, isolate, correlate his own actions with the objective situation, and also consider it depending on the study of the mechanisms of thinking.

Personal (general psychological) is the construction of a new image of one's "I", in the process of communicating with other individuals, as well as vigorous activity and development of new knowledge about the surrounding world.

Personal reflection consists of psychological mechanism changes in individual consciousness. A.V. Rossokhin believes that this aspect is a subjective active process of generating meanings, which is based on the uniqueness of being aware of the unconscious. This is internal work, leading to the formation of new strategies, ways of internal dialogue, to changes in value-semantic formations, integration of the individual into a new, as well as a holistic state.

Reflection of activity

Reflection is considered a special skill, which consists in the ability to be aware of the focus of attention, as well as to track the psychological state, thoughts, sensations. It represents an opportunity to observe oneself, as it were, from the side through the eyes of an outsider, allows you to see what exactly the attention is focused on and its focus. Modern psychology under this concept means any reflection of the individual, which is aimed at introspection. This is an assessment of one's condition, actions, reflection on any events. The depth of introspection depends on the level of morality, education of a person, his ability to control himself.

Reflection of activity is the main source of new ideas. The reflective state, giving a certain material, can subsequently serve for observation, as well as criticism. As a result of introspection, the individual changes and the reflective position represents a mechanism that makes implicit thoughts explicit. Under certain conditions, the reflective state becomes a source of obtaining even deeper knowledge than those that we possess. The professional development of the individual is directly related to this state. The development itself takes place not only technically, but also intellectually and personally. A person for whom reflection is alien does not control his life and the life river carries him in the direction of the flow.

Reflection of activity enables the individual to realize what the person is doing now, where he is and where he needs to move in order to develop. The reflexive state, aimed at understanding the causes, as well as the grounds for personal judgments, is often referred to as philosophy.

Reflection of activity is important for a person engaged in intellectual work. It is needed when interpersonal group interaction is needed. For example, management, refers to this case. Reflection must be differentiated from .

The purpose of reflection

Without reflection, there is no learning. An individual who repeats the activity proposed in the sample a hundred times may never learn anything.

The purpose of reflection is to identify, remember and realize the components of the activity. These are types, meaning, methods, ways of solving them, problems, results obtained. Without awareness of the ways of teaching, the mechanisms of cognition, students are unable to appropriate the knowledge that they have obtained. Learning occurs when guided reflection is connected, thanks to which schemes of activity are distinguished, namely, methods for solving practical problems.

Reflective feeling is an inner experience, a way of self-knowledge, as well as a necessary tool for thinking. The most relevant reflection in distance learning.

Development of reflection

The development of reflection is incredibly important for changing a sober-minded individual for the better. Development includes the following ways:

Analyze personal actions after all important events and making difficult decisions;

Try to evaluate yourself adequately;

Think about how you acted and how your actions looked in the eyes of others, evaluate your actions in terms of the possibility of changing something, evaluate the experience gained;

Try to end your working day with an analysis of events, mentally running through all the episodes of the outgoing day, especially concentrate on those episodes with which you are not satisfied enough, and evaluate all unsuccessful moments with the eyes of an outside observer;

Periodically check personal opinions about other people, analyzing whether personal perceptions are wrong or true.

Communicate more with people who are different from you, who have a different point of view than yours, because every attempt to understand a different person provides an opportunity to activate reflection.

Achieving success allows us to talk about mastering a reflexive position. One should not be afraid to understand another individual, since this does not act as an acceptance of his position. A deep and broad vision of the situation makes your mind most flexible, allowing you to find a consistent and effective solution. To analyze personal actions, use the problems that arise at a particular moment. In the most difficult situations, perhaps one should find a share of comedy and paradox. If you look at your problem from a different angle, you will notice something funny about it. This skill indicates a high level of reflective position. It is difficult to find something funny in the problem, but this will help to solve it.

Six months later, as you develop the ability for a reflective attitude, you will notice that you have mastered the ability to understand people, as well as yourself. You will be surprised that you can predict other people's actions, as well as anticipate thoughts. You will feel a powerful influx of strength and learn to understand yourself.

Reflection is an effective and subtle weapon. This direction can be developed endlessly, and the ability can be used in various spheres of life.

The development of personality reflection is not an easy task. If difficulties arise, then improve communication skills that ensure the development of a reflective position.

Speaker of the Medical and Psychological Center "PsychoMed"