Introspective Research to understand inner processes
How can we research within ourselves (introspective research) to better understand what we do and where we are going? Where can we find information?
Trying to improve our way of life is the basis of every page of this site. We will use art, psychology and knowledge of economics to deepen introspection and make it more effective. Painter/writer Aurora Mazzoldi works with us to transfer the results of her investigation to introspective painting. Antonella Giannini applies them to psychology (introspective psychology). Those who investigate in themselves can then count on the experience of a psychologist and the help of introspective paintings.
What’s so special about these paintings? They show what is going within us, instead of showing the outside world. They make it easier to understand inner processes. When we went to school, did we need explanations on the board? Well, introspective paintings are a bit like the drawings of geometric figures on the blackboard which supported the explanation of mathematics.
So, for example, the painting on the side shows that some human relationships can be apparent: the figure at the top tries to communicate, but the one on the right looks scared, and the one below avoids emotional exchange. The different color intensities help to get into the situation. This is important; we should enter the scene and not get satisfied with a superficial vision. We should aim to have a direct contact with the painting.
Entering the painting we can understand its message, alone or with the help of a therapist. Therapists can also appreciate the catalytic function of introspective paintings; they help to bring emotions to surface; therapists can use them both in individual sessions and in groups.
Introspective research is open to all
Introspection is open to everyone. The experience and contribution of many researchers, past and present, simplified our investigation. They have shown us many aspects of reality, either by writing or by word, and made easier to come to conclusions, some of which are in these pages.
Conclusions are never definitive, but they help us progress. We base our results on our own intuitions, and those of other people. Everything is constantly developing. Therefore, you will not find any gurus, doctrines or established teachings in this site. We show some results we got.
We remain open to contributions from any researcher in this field, from any country in the world and from any discipline.
Pages of useful information
Introspection takes time and perseverance. We have provided many pages (and also a book) to meet the needs of those who devote part of their time to introspective research. Here are some:
- Introspective Art makes inner research easier and shows how we make a mess of our lives. How? with psychological games (s. also Eric Berne) and by badly using our forces and the mechanisms of our personality.
- An example of reading a painting (representing relationship power games); we research their deeper meaning and interpret the graphical representation of some represented dynamics. This will lead to an unconventional perspective of couple dynamics.
- How to go deep into a painting; how to use it to investigate our inner dynamics; and how to understand the message in its symbols. We realize then that a painting can say more than what, at first glance, it seems to.
Direct contact with paintings
The colors of the painting promote and arouse emotions in the observers; they can perceive nuances of the deeper meaning of the painting, instead of considering it only from an aesthetic perspective. The painting can establish direct contact with the viewer.
Finally, our investigation shows how what happens to us depends on our reactions. And it also shows that there is a spiral movement between us and external reality, a spiral of which we are at the center. If we change something in ourselves, this change affects the external reality. Rarely do we realize how much we could affect reality and we suffer it. But it is difficult to change external reality if we do not change something within ourselves, renouncing to act mechanically.
The introspective investigation takes place within ourselves. The ideas we provide in these pages may be useful to someone to deepen and speed it up. In that case, we will have fulfilled our task.
Luis Pisoni