Understanding Self-Awareness: A heuristic study of the relationship with self and other
Open AccessThe purpose of studying the emergence of self-awareness stems from its importance in building authentic relationships and the lack of self-awareness evident in our daily lives. The conceptual framework is based on interaction theory (Gallagher et al., 2004). This qualitative study examined the lived experience of becoming self-aware of seven women and two men co-researchers. The study was conducted using three in-depth, semi-structured, dialogic interviews with each co-researcher except the primary researcher. Additionally some co-researchers provided journal entries. Following heuristic methodology, individual depictions were created, followed by a composite depiction allowing clusters, patterns, and themes common to the co-researchers to surface.The findings were examined through the lenses of the affective sciences and biology, resulting in a number of outcomes including: (a) the natural, continuously emergent process of self-awareness includes two domains--self and other--and several aspects; (b) willingness to self-reflect, following initiating traumatic events often begins the process of becoming self aware; (c) relationships are an essential aspect of human interaction and emerging self-awareness; (d) human beings are self-determining, self-organizing and co-emerge in relationship with the environment; (e) the mind and body are not separate entities, they work naturally together with emotions and spirit as an integrated whole; (f) emotions predate cognitive ability in humans; and (g) relationships including work organizations can and do limit an individual's capacity for developing and utilizing self-awareness.Theoretical and practical implications arose from this study and include (a) the need to explore current theories of human development through the lenses of affective science and biology; (b) the need to understand more fully the essential part played by relationships in human development, (c) the need to examine further the positive and essential yet unbearable nature of self-awareness, and (d) the need to explore the language used to describe living systems and the human experience.
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