From a completely fascinating article in the Science section of the New York Times:
“When people are made to be self-aware, they are likelier to stop and think about what they are doing,” Dr. Bodenhausen said. “A byproduct of that awareness may be a shift away from acting on autopilot toward more desirable ways of behaving.” Physical self-reflection, in other words, encourages philosophical self-reflection, a crash course in the Socratic notion that you cannot know or appreciate others until you know yourself.
The power of reflection - literal reflection in mirrors - is now being investigated by scientists! Very cool!!
Get out the windex, polish your mirror to a high gloss and get to gazing at yourself, yes? Yes. Nosce te ipsum, ya'all!
7 comments:
I've always enjoyed dogs' reactions to seeing themselves in a mirror. Some don't notice a thing. Others bark furiously at the dog staring them in the face, never recognizing that it's just their reflection. But then, how would they know what they look like?
What does your Jake do?
Maybe we gain more empathy for our vulnerable looking selves in the mirror, and in turn, have more empathy for others.
thanks for the head's up on the article in yesterday's times...
great reflection picture....love all the things you captured - iron fence, old green car, brick sidewalk, dead branches.... it is a perfect accompanying photo for this great post.
been silent on the comments of late...way too busy...but you've had a run of stellar posts (as always!!)
although I can't wrap my mind around the concept of loving dc summer weather! but hey, that's cool (oh I guess it's anything but cool).... good to know where one's bioregion is....mine are places cool and misty!
So true. We spend so much time blaming the victim.
Dennis briefly 'checks himself' when he passes the hal mirror...lookin' good...
Jake isn't interested in looking at himself, but he does gaze directly into my reflected eyes when he's sitting in front of my closet doors, waiting to go for a walk. It's very sweet. I should take a picture sometime.
Ah yes! I've definitely been in a "self-reflection" phase of my life...
It's been necessary and real.
And I think I'm close to needing a break! :)
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