Quoted from the article, 'self-reflective rumination--a focus on the self and one's feelings'.
This is an interesting discovery, one which would help mental health institutions to categorize patients with depression. Self-reflection is a generally welcomed habit that allows the individual to improve his/her actions and behavior by reflecting upon his/her actions and sorting out feelings. This article could give us an insight about the possible harms that self-reflections brings us, making it a must to balance self-reflection with other individual needs. An example is seeking knowledge and new experiences.
In my opinion, self-reflection could be based on both external and internal factors, and self-reflection has varying degrees as well. External factors can include negative feedback, such as quarrels, scoldings and ostracization among peers. These external factors prompt the individual to reflect upon his/her actions so that he/she will face greater acceptance among the society.
Internal factors could be based on personalities formed, which could also be influenced from parents when the individual is young. An example is where the parents force a child to properly think about his/her actions before allowing the child to eat a meal.
According to the factors, self-reflection could be deeply-instilled within an individual-or not. This degree of self-reflection will in turn determine how much influence self-reflection has on the person's depressive symptoms.
According to my knowledge, an individual may be tested for how strongly he/she does self-reflection. Multiple Intelligences, a concept conceived by Howard Gardner, are seven distinct ways to demonstrate intellectual ability. They are: Visual/Spatial, Verbal/Linguistic, Logical/Mathematical, Bodily/Kinesthetic, Musical/Rhythmic, Interpersonal, and Intrapersonal Intelligence.
People who are prone to self-reflect a lot have high scores in the Intrapersonal Intelligence. Intrapersonal Intelligence is the ability to self-reflect and be aware of one's inner state of being (http://www.ldpride.net/learningstyles.MI.htm#Intrapersonal%20Intelligence).
Referring to the article, the experiment Paul Verhaeghen, PhD, Joormann and their colleagues does show some evidence that their hypothesis is correct. I agree with the hypothesis as well, that self-reflection may lead to both depression and creativity. This is with regards to how the mind works, and with everything there are usually strengths and weaknesses. Depression may be causing by self-reflecting too much too.
I disagree though, regarding the view 'people most likely to have the blues are also those most likely to express them' suggested by Joormann. Self-reflection is but a possible avenue for discovering creativity, and besides, external factors do determine if people are encouraged to express their ideas in the first place. Therefore, this view is too narrow.
On a personal note, this article presents an intriguing perspective on the risks of relying on self-reflection for managing oneself. This article may encourage individuals to look out of themselves rather than focusing inwards for generating ideas. Ironically, it may also prompt educators to emphasize on self-reflection for creative writing, at the expense of the potential risks of doing so.
By: Kwee Peng
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