SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE Meaning and
Definition
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Subjective experience refers to an individual's personal and unique perception of their thoughts, emotions, sensations, and personal qualities such as beliefs, desires, and attitudes. It is characterized by the fact that it is solely known and felt by the individual themselves and cannot be directly observed or measured by others.
Subjective experience is inherently influenced by an individual's internal state, background, cultural values, and personal history. It is subjective in nature as it can vary from person to person, even when exposed to the same external stimuli or circumstances. For example, two individuals can witness the same event but interpret and experience it differently based on their own beliefs, biases, and emotional responses.
This term encompasses various aspects of human experience, including perceptions, emotions, thoughts, and consciousness. Perceptions are the way individuals interpret and give meaning to sensory information received from their environment. Emotions refer to the subjective feelings that arise in response to specific situations or stimuli. Thoughts encompass the mental processes and cognitive activities that occur within an individual's mind. Consciousness represents an individual's awareness of their internal and external experiences.
Due to its personal nature, subjective experiences are often challenging to fully comprehend or measure objectively. While scientific methods strive to study and understand aspects of subjective experience, it remains predominantly within the realm of individual introspection and self-reflection.
Etymology of SUBJECTIVE EXPERIENCE
The word "subjective" originates from the Latin word "subjectivus", which means "pertaining to the mind" or "personal". It comes from the Latin word "subjectus", which is the past participle of "subjicere", meaning "to place under" or "to submit". In this context, "subjective" implies something that is influenced by a person's thoughts, emotions, or personal viewpoints.
The term "experience" has an etymology that traces back to the Latin word "experientia", which means "knowledge gained through repeated trials" or "experiment". It comes from the verb "experiri", meaning "to try" or "to test". From this perspective, "experience" refers to an individual's encounter with thoughts, sensations, emotions, or events, resulting in the acquisition of knowledge or understanding.
