The unique properties of the psyche
are used in the TPS-Paradigm to distinguish methods enabling access
to psychical phenomena from those that cannot. Therefore, the novel
concepts of introquestion and extroquestion (derived from the Latin
quaerere for to seek, enquire) are introduced. They are defined and differentiated from one another on the
basis of:
- Particular phenomena under study (e.g., thoughts, bones,
faces, stimuli of light)
- Persons who report on their perceptions of these phenomena
Introquestive methods are all procedures for studying phenomena that
can be perceived only from within the individual itself and by nobody else in principle under all possible conditions. This applies to psychical phenomena, which can be explored by others only indirectly through individuals' externalisations (e.g., in behaviours, spoken language).
Extroquestive methods,
by contrast, are all procedures for studying phenomena that
are or can (technically) be made perceptible by multiple individuals. This applies to all physical phenomena (including internal and immaterial ones, e.g., inner organs,
bones, heat) because they can be made perceptible using invasive or technical methods (e.g. surgery, x-ray, thermometers).
These concepts differ in essential ways from previous
concepts of introspection and extrospection, which
do not allow to make such differentiations because they build on a
methodical flaw (for details, see Uher,
2016b, 2019). |