Étymologiquement, the term of introspection comes from Latin “introspectus” action to look at inside.

In general, it is the fact, for a Conscience, to be observed itself.

In Psychology, introspection is a method of Observation and analysis of Oneself in order to studied its own person (introspective Psychologie) and to acquire a Self-knowledge or in order to know the human Esprit in general.

Introspection was the principal method used at the beginnings of the experimental Psychologie, at the end of the 19th century. The difficulties encountered by the specialists to agree on the contents of the conscience led the majority of the psychologists of the 20th century to reject this method. In the field of the cognitive Psychology, the use of the concomitant entries of charge ( think-aloud protocol ) by researchers like Newell and Simon is sometimes criticized like a return of introspection.