The mirror as a psychotherapeutic tool

The mirror is a tool that no home is without. But apart from its practical use, it can also be used psychotherapeutically. If you didn't know, then there is a self-awareness book perfect for you!

According to the self-awareness theory a person tends to compare himself with some ideal standards. Like for example when he notices his own reflection in the mirror.

This comparison of the self with ideal standards can have undesirable effects, activating negative emotions. Research has shown that this is true to a lesser extent, since exposure to a mirror reduces self-critical judgments in the normal population. It also improves positive self-awareness in people with autism.

Self mirroring

Mahoney (1991) asked his patients to look into a mirror while describing their experiences. This combined with a dialogue with themselves. In self-mirroring, he asked patients to watch videos of their faces while talking about an important life event.

Video has been shown to improve patients' ability to recognize emotional distress. It has happened that we also see ourselves on video and notice things that we were not aware of. For example, how angry we look. The mirror, however, has greater immediacy, accessibility, but also uniqueness, since it does not have the possibility of replay.

Empathic speech

Petrocchia et al. (2016) found that a short, compassionate, empathic speech can have even greater positive emotions if done in front of a mirror. The mirror enhances "compassionate" self-talk through contact with a person experiencing an emotional experience of pain. This increase in positive emotions has to do with the motivation system. This is the goal of compassion-focused interventions.

Research has shown that from birth the brain has specialized systems that respond to social stimuli, such as warm tone of voice, facial expressions, touch, etc., and these stimuli are powerful regulators of arousal and emotion. Thus, the mirror appears to be an effective adjunct to these self-talk exercises because it is associated with positive emotions that act protectively against excessive self-criticism.

The mirror effect

Research has shown that physical indicators of compassion increase significantly when sympathetic phrases are said in front of a mirror. One explanation has to do with the mirror's ability to increase the amount of positive social messages being forwarded (voice, facial expression, gaze), thereby increasing the emotional response elicited (nonverbal expression of a sense of safety).

By also observing our face in the mirror, we activate the camotrophic neuron system. This further facilitates the experience of self-compassion.

Exposure to our face facilitates identification with facial expressions related to the empathetic process. Another view that explains the reinforcing effect of the mirror on the expression of positive emotions is connected with the so-called "objectifying" properties of the mirror. That is, when we observe our reflection, we experience ourselves as external observers. This is what facilitates a more objective sense of things.

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