Self-knowledge processes and rational and experiential information processing systems in iran and the united states

Subject Areas : روان درمانگری

Nima  Ghorbani ¹ (PhD Tehran University)
P. J.  Watson ² (PhD University of Tennessee at Chattanooga)

Received: 2015-06-07 Accepted : 2015-06-07 Published : 2005-09-23

Keywords: alexithymia, self - knowledge, information process, emotional intelligence,

Abstract :

Several constructs and measures of the processes of self–knowledge operate at different levels of integration and abstractness to facilitate and modulate self– regulating processes. Emotional intelligence and Alexithymia, as two constructs of reductionistic self-knowledge, contribute respectively to the existence and to the absence of emotional self-awareness. These two experiential and reflective components of self–knowledge provide a more holistic and integrative view of self-knowledge than the emotional intelligence and Alexithymia constructs do. Therefore, these two facets should positively correlate with all the dimensions of rational and experiential information processing systems. The data from Iran and the United States showed that these two facets of self-knowledge are positively associated with all components of the rational and experiential information processing systems. The Emotional intelligence and Alexithymia did not display such relationships. In both cultures, the two facets of self-knowledge also predicted some measures of mental health that are beyond the information processing systems. These results point toward the intertwined, dynamic, integrative, and temporal nature of selfknowledge processes and suggest a need for developing scales, which are more efficient in measuring these processes and in studying the similarities and differences in selfknowledge among cultures.