Classical Introspection Revisited: Implications of Research on Visual Imagery for the Functions of Pristine Inner Experience as Apprehended by Descriptive Experience Sampling

Abstract

Classical Introspection (CI) was the first formal scientific method to investigate conscious experience, but it fell into disrepute. Descriptive Experience Sampling (DES) has been proposed as a better method to capture naturally-occurring “pristine inner experience”, but the significance of this experience has not been systematically evaluated. This paper examines the functions of pristine inner experience on the basis of two questions that emerged from criticisms of CI: Can pristine inner experience access mental processes and can it affect behavior? Considering the most frequent form of pristine inner experience (inner seeing) from research on visual imagery, three conclusions are drawn: (a) Imagery and inner seeing do not provide direct knowledge about mental processes, (b) imagery and inner seeing do play a role in the determination of behavior, and (c) vividness of visual imagery is associated with behavior, but neither it or pristine inner seeing have causal effects because they have not been experimentally manipulated. This requirement poses challenges, and suggestions are made for nonexperimental research. It is concluded that DES is a better method than CI, but questions are raised about the time and effort that it requires.