insight /in″sīt/ [L, in, within; AS, gesihth, sight] , 1. the capacity for comprehending the true nature of a situation or for penetrating an underlying truth. 2. an instance of penetrating or comprehending an underlying truth, primarily through intuitive understanding. 3. (in psychology) a type of self-understanding encompassing both intellectual and emotional awareness of the unconscious nature, origin, and mechanisms of one’s attitudes, feelings, and behavior. It is one of the most important goals of psychotherapy and, with integration, leads to modification of maladaptive behavioral patterns. See also integration.
