— introspectional , adj. — introspectionist , n. , adj.
/in'treuh spek"sheuhn/ , n.
1. observation or examination of one's own mental and emotional state, mental processes, etc.; the act of looking within oneself.
2. the tendency or disposition to do this.
3. See sympathetic introspection .
[ 1670-80; introspect ( us ), ptp. of introspicere to look within (equiv. to intro- INTRO- + spec ( ere ) to look + -tus ptp. suffix) + -ION ]
Syn. 1. self-examination, soul-searching.