1. The document discusses conceptualizing the process of self-reflection as a complex problem-solving task, with inner speech playing a role as a cognitive tool. 2. It reviews theories of inner speech, self, and problem-solving, suggesting self can be seen as a question to be solved through gathering self-information. 3. The role of inner speech in problem-solving and improving self-awareness is explored, with rumination distinguished from productive self-reflection and the potential to study these concepts using problem-solving tasks is discussed.

1. The process of
self-reflection as a
problem-solving task
*Brainstorming*
Amanda da Costa da Silveira

2. Theoretical support
• Semiotic self/Dialogical self (Norbert
Wiley and Bakhtin)
• Inner speech and self-awareness
process (reflexivity) (Alain Morin)
• Psi Theory - Complex problem-solving
(Dietrich Dörner)
• Cognitive Psychology - Information Processing

3. Self and Inner speech
- Inner speech represents a central process
involved in the Dialogical Self
- Self narratives depend on one’s ability to generate
speech-for-self (Fogel et al.,2002, Lysaker & Hermans, 2007)
- Found in typical expressions in the Narrative
Psychology literature
- “Person as a storyteller” and “voicing the self” implicitly
imply the use of self-talk
- Fundaments theories of American Pragmatists
such as Peirce, James, Mead and Dewey
- Wiley, 2006

4. - 1/4 of people’s conscious waking life is made up of silent verbal
thinking (Heavey & Hurlburt, 2008)
- Self-directed speech (private speech in children and inner speech in
adults) plays a primary role in the regulation of thought and
behavior (Fernyhough & Fradley, 2005; Vygotsky, 1943/1962)
- Verbal short-term memory engages a *phonological loop* that
constitutes inner speech (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974)
- Self-talk plays a central role in task switching performance (Miyake et
al, 2004), remembering goals of action and metacognition (Meacham, 1979)
and self-awareness (Morin & Michauld, 2007)
- Features of normal language functions entail inner speech and its
loss leads to aphasia, agraphia, alexia, and acalculia (Levine et al, 1982)
- When distorted, inner speech is implicated in psychological
disorders (e.g.:schizophrenia, social anxiety, depression)

5. Inner speech
A neglected phenomenon
The central role of inner speech in human
cognition, memory and consciousness was
shown.
“Inner speech is neglected at Millennium's end, not even mentioned in
the Handbook of Neurolinguistics (1998) (Kinsbourne, 2000, p.120)
Nor the Handbook of Self and Identity (2003) and the Blackwell
Companion to Consciousness (2007)”

6. The Complex Problem-solving Theory
• D. Dörner developed a model of the
overall organization of psychic
processes on which action regulation
is based.
• "Action regulation” is the translation of
the German concept "Handlung” (more
than “behavior”).

7. Action Regulation
• Means a goal-directed action, multiple
action, for instance the integration of different
problems, and reflected action.
• Reflection of an action means that the course
of an action is not preprogrammed, or that it
may be re-determined when it seems
necessary.
• “Each moderately complex human action is accompanied by
emotional modulations; emotions shape thinking and action
and vice versa emotions are shaped by cognitive processes.
Each human action is motivated and motivation may change
during action organization.”

8. • Organization of a problem-solving process:
– GenMot, which produces motives and intentions
– SelectMot, which select a motive or an intention
for action
– The running of a motive:
• goal elaboration,
• forming an image of the given situation,
• calculating the development of the given situation (prognosis),
• planning and deciding about a course of action,
• "implementing" the course of action and control whether the action has the expected effect. – If
actions fail it is necessary to analyse the reasons of the failure and to alter the strategies of
information collection, planning, decision making etc. In this process of critical analysis self-
reflection plays an eminent role.
• Appropriate action regulation can be
learned (step by step)
• At first, I need to be taught.
• Can one use this theory to improve self-
consciousness?
• What will be observed: inner speech

9. • The idea is to unveil forms of human action
regulation as an interaction of
motivational, emotional and cognitive
processes under different conditions and in
different environments.
• The aim of this study was to specify modes of
inner-speech as expression of self-
consciousness (reflexivity)

10. The process of
self-reflection as a
(complex)
problem-solving task

11. - Starting point: Aristotle, 2300 years ago, defined
*soul* as the "organizing principle” of the body.
- Discussion theme: The general organization of the
"soul" as information processing.

12. The role played by inner speech in self-awareness is to
conceive the process of self-reflection as being a
problem-solving task, and inner speech as being a
cognitive tool the individual uses to reach a *solution*
to this *problem*.
(Morin, 1995).
In other words, the self can be seen as a
question to be solved,
where the solution represents self-
knowledge, and self-information, the
data needed to work out the problem.
i.e., Who am I? What characterizes
me? What behavior did I emit?

13. 1
• Can the process of self-reflection be a sort of
(complex) problem-solving task?
– Is it a complex task?
– If so, a problem-solving theory can be applied to it.
 Impact: Developing a concrete strategy to improve self-
awareness (which is very useful!)
• Inner speech contribution to the problem-
solving theory
– Improvement of the problem-solving theory
– Improvement of the studies on metacognition
 Impact: One more contribution of inner speech

14. A walk-through
• What kind of task(s) could be held?
• Should different tasks be compared?
(self x not-self-related tasks)

15. Round II

16. Rumination
I still smell some rats...

17. Background
• Inner speech and
reflexivity of
consciousness
• Problem solving - The
Raven Test
• Rumination as the
poor side of reflection
1st. + 3rd.
Person
data
Qualitative +
Quantitative
data

18.  Reflexão:
Intellectual self-
attentiveness
(Curiosidade)
 Ruminação:
Neurotic self-
attentiveness
(Ansiedade)
Trapnell & Campbell, 1999.

19. Reflecting upon the results...

20. Time
Duration (mean): 40’41”
Range: 15’63” - 121’08”
 It is said to be directly
proportional to difficulties of
the task
# of words
 Mean: 2649,61 words
 Range: 687 - 9157 words
 It is said to be directly
proportional to difficulties of
the task
;
Performance
 Mean: 77,1%
 Range: 22% - 97%
 It is said to be inversely
proportional to difficulties
of the task.
Quantitative measures of inner speech

21. • Discussion: the concept of rumination
• Repetitive negative thoughts (Trapnell &
Campbell, 1999)
• Involves thinking about, elaborating, and focusing on the
undesired thoughts or feelings, which prolongs the mood.
(Lyubomirsky & Nolen-Hoeksema, 1995)
• Impedes successful mood-regulation strategies, such as
focused problem-solving or distraction (Lyubomirsky &
Nolen-Hoeksema, 1995)
• Idea: improve the concept of rumination x
self-rumination
• Task: a problem-solving task such as Raven and self-
reflection as a task
• What would a difficult task in self reflection be? (what
kind of questions could be made/ situation could be
held?)

22. 2
• Are the concepts of rumination and self-
rumination different?
– Qualitative and quantitative distinctions
– Review of Trapnell & Campbell’s questionnaire
– Other rumination measures
 Impact: Rumination is a widely used concept that has
no operational definition (yet!)
 When self-reflection is the task, will
rumination be observed?
 When we finally have operational definitions to it, this
dream will finally come true!
THANK YOU!