reflexive
Pointing back inward
Reflexive describes something that turns back on itself.
In grammar, a reflexive pronoun refers to the subject: She hurt herself.
A reflexive verb takes such a pronoun as its object.
Beyond grammar, reflexive means automatic or unthinking—a reflexive response happens without deliberation, like a reflex.
In philosophy and social science, reflexive analysis examines how the observer affects what's observed.
Noun's grammatical replacement
- myselfFirst-person reflexive pronoun
- yourselfReflexive second person
- herselfFeminine reflexive pronoun
- himselfReflexive male pronoun
itself · ourselves · yourselves · themselves · oneself · reciprocal · anaphora · antecedent
Not under conscious control
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- blinkRapid lid movement
- flinchInvoluntary retreat from threat
startle · gag · cough · sneeze · yawn · shiver · twitch · hiccup
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
- self-analysisScrutinizing one's own psyche
self-scrutiny · self-questioning · meditation · mindfulness · soul-searching · rumination · self-observation · self-consciousness
pronoun
Noun's grammatical replacement
- myselfFirst-person reflexive pronoun
- yourselfReflexive second person
- herselfFeminine reflexive pronoun
himself · itself · ourselves · yourselves · themselves · oneself · reciprocal · anaphora · antecedent · binding
involuntary
Not under conscious control
- instinctiveArising without conscious thought
- knee-jerkInstinctive and unconsidered
- blinkRapid lid movement
flinch · startle · gag · cough · sneeze · yawn · shiver · twitch · hiccup · swallowing
self-examination
Scrutiny of one's thoughts
- self-awarenessInsight into one's psyche
- introspectionObserving one's own mind
- contemplationSustained reflective attention
self-analysis · self-scrutiny · self-questioning · meditation · mindfulness · soul-searching · rumination · self-observation · self-consciousness · self-discovery
self-directed
Managing oneself without supervision
feedback · paradox · meta · self-contained · self-generating
- Semitic grammarroot, stem, conjugation, inflection, verb form
- thoughtlessthoughtless, unthinking, mindless, unreflective, unconsidered
- documentary typesdocumentaries, cinema verite, observational, fly on the wall, expository
- relationsrelation, relationship, equivalence relation, connection, link
- reactivereactive, excitable, volatile, high-strung, jumpy
- documentary techniquesinterviews, narration, voiceover, voice-over, voice over
reflexivedeliberate
Consciously chosen, not accidental
intentional · conscious · voluntary · considered · calculated
reflexivetransitive
Taking a direct object
forward · external · extroverted · outgoing · projective
- reflexive pronounsWords indicating same subject-object
- reflexive actionInvoluntary automatic response
reflexivity, reflexively, reflexiveness, reflexives, reflexive pronoun, reflexive pronouns