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The nature of insight. (A. R. Martin; Nov. 22, 1949) There is perhaps no word having to do with human phenomena that is more loosely used, misused or abused than the word “insight.” From the viewpoint of psychoanalytic therapy, one of Webster's definitions comes close to what we mean by “insight”—that is, “the power or act of seeing into a situation or into one's self.” To consider that psychiatry is only interested in insight as a realization of the morbid nature of one's condition is extremely narrow and limited. Analytic therapy is directed toward assisting people to become more aware of themselves, and is particularly concerned with all the resistances, conscious and unconscious, that are developed within the individual and prevent him from gaining insight into himself.
The problem of insight has subjective and objective components. Subjectively considered, there is emotional self-recognition of something pertaining to our way of living. There is nearly always a sudden quality about the experience. In analysis the patient has perhaps grasped something, as we say, intellectually, but much later, after considerable work, the total involving experience takes place and then suddenly the patient will say, “Now I see what you mean. Funny, I talked about it for months, for years. I thought I understood it, but now for the first time I feel that I know. I thought I understood all the time.”
Another subjective quality of the insight experience is the vivid photographic impression of the spot where insight occurred. There also seems to be a heightening of other senses at this moment of insight. Still another experience which occurs in patients is the sudden realization, or appreciation, of continuity or relationship during which a sudden connection is seen. It is where there is perhaps the first recognition of an analogy or an epitome. Another experience which I will include is a sudden realization or awareness which brings with it the dissipation of certain fears or phobia