Reflection and Reflexivity: There’s a Difference!
In elementary school, we are first taught how to self-reflect: How do you feel? What did you learn in class today? What connections can you make with your personal life?
We continue to use these same skills throughout high school and higher education, building upon our self-knowledge by reviewing and evaluating our experiences from practice. Reflection is an introspective process that you are probably already very familiar with. It requires critical thought and the ability to think “on” yourself—an activity that helps you capture your internal thoughts and understandings. However, simply being reflective can also be limiting.
In contrast to reflection, reflexivity is a practice that encourages learners to engage in a constant state of thinking and being that allows us to observe our growth, experiences, and influence on the world. By being reflexive, we are inclined to look into ourselves through a lens that involves other perspectives and the people around us (such as considering social, political, and historical factors). This gives us the ability to examine how our feelings, reactions, and motives have been shaped, and how they play a role in the way we think or behave in a given context. The main difference that distinguishes reflexivity from reflection is a more profound awareness of one’s subjective viewpoint, which may include acknowledging any underlying assumptions and beliefs that one might hold. As a result, a reflexive learner becomes more open to personal growth.
In clinical practice, this idea of being a “reflexive learner” can be very much beneficial for yourself and the people that you interact with. For instance, critical reflexivity is crucial to enhancing a compassionate relationship with the patient or other healthcare providers on your team, as well as respecting cultural values when providing care. We are able to pay more attention to the humanistic side of healthcare, and improve practice so that we can better serve people seeking care in the community.
It is important to remember that both reflection and reflexive thinking do not have to be mutually exclusive, and really, a balance of both can help you gain a better sense of who you are and your role in society. We would like you to think about how you can actively engage in these processes as a learner in the classroom or even just in your everyday life.
Your Healthcare Prospectives Team
