What is ‘Reflection’? The root of the word ‘Reflection’ is the Latin reflectere. Flectere means ‘to bend,’ so re-flectere increases the inflection – ‘to bend back.’ The meaning has evolved and is now interpreted as an introspective ‘bending in’ – a reviewing of our own inner processes (thinking, feeling, intuiting). Indeed, our ability for ‘reflective consciousness’ differentiates us from other living beings.
In 1933 John Dewey argued that reflective persons embodied certain key characteristics: open-mindedness, a willingness to accept intellectual responsibility for one’s own views, whole-heartedness (i.e. a willingness to face fears and uncertainties), enthusiasm, and curiosity. Many consider Dewey to be the modern ‘father’ of ‘critical self-reflection.’
In 1983 Donald Schön emphasized the concept of ‘reflection-in-action’ – the reflective practitioner evaluates his/her intuitive understandings that are intrinsic to the experience and act as a guide to action. This is ‘in the moment’ processing.
Jürgen Habermas added to our understanding when he distinguished three types and three stages of reflection. Technical Reflection is concerned with efficiency and effectiveness of means to achieve certain ends (think: the effective application of skills and knowledge). Practical Reflection allows for examination of goals and the assumptions on which they are based and recognizes that meanings are negotiated through language and communication. Knowledge is viewed as socially constructed. Individuals seek to develop a sense of shared values and norms within their specific contexts. Critical Reflection adds moral and ethical criteria such as equity and justice.
Given this, consider that although ‘critical thinking’ and ‘critical reflection’ are often used interchangeably that there are important distinctions to be made. Here are a few of them:
- Critical Thinking involves a process of abstract reasoning, detecting the assumptions underlying the others’ position and identifying how these assumptions serve specific interests/agendas.
- Critical Reflection involves a process whereby one explores/examines one’s own positioning – this requires being ‘awake’ and it requires an ability to be self-aware [Gentle reader, I refer you to Anthony DeMello’s stimulating and challenging book: ‘Awareness’ – DeMello will help you understand more fully ‘being awake and aware’]. Critical Reflection is generally, more challenging because of the unquestioning acceptance of the many deep tacit assumptions/beliefs that we hold (and these are not conscious to us). Given the deeply personal nature of this process I add a word and end up with Critical Self-Reflection.
Critical Self-Reflection involves emerging, naming and questioning our deep tacit assumptions and beliefs and then exploring alternative perspectives, choosing one or more of them (while ‘letting go of’ one or more of our deep tacit assumptions and beliefs). This is, in essence, ‘transformative learning’ (transformation = a fundamental change in character or structure requiring, at minimum, a change in one or more of our deep tacit assumptions, beliefs and core values).
What are some of the features that distinguish our capacity for critical self-reflection from other types of reflection?