Psychology: behaviour reflects inner processes

Definition

"Inner processes" are events that take place in a person's inner world of experience and can only become apparent in the outside world through actions and physical activity. Inner processes can therefore only be observed indirectly, and the observer may be deceived in doing so.

Examples of inner processes are: thinking, feeling, wanting, remembering, mental images, fantasies, etc.

What makes this task difficult for the psychologist?

Inner processes cannot be observed objectively. People can deceive others about their "inner life", consciously or unconsciously.

Example: Someone who feels grief at the loss of a person can communicate it to the outside world by crying – or hide it from the outside world by laughing and joking, thereby deceiving others about their true emotional state.