What does introspection involve?

Introspection involves the examination of conscious thoughts and feelings. This method requires individuals to reflect on their immediate experiences, thoughts, and emotional responses. It is a foundational concept in psychology, particularly in the early days with practitioners like Wilhelm Wundt, who utilized introspection to study the contents of the mind. By observing and reporting their internal experiences, individuals provide insight into their cognitive processes, which helps psychologists understand how consciousness operates.

While the other options represent important aspects of psychology, they do not align with the specific focus of introspection. For instance, observation of behavior pertains more to behaviorism, which emphasizes observable actions rather than internal experiences. Examination of unconscious drives is related to psychoanalytic theories, particularly those proposed by Sigmund Freud, which focus on motives that lie outside of conscious awareness. Analysis of genetic factors falls under the realm of biological psychology, concentrating on heredity and biological influences on behavior rather than subjective experience.