Nora, one of the most important psychological functions of communications with others is its apparent ability to self-validate. I say 'apparent' because actual self-validation may or may not occur, but whether it does or not, people think it does and they like that. Meanings or perceptions are very fragile or dubious until they are validated by communicating them to someone and getting a response. But it is not primarily the message or the content, but merely the communication of it that is important. No one may understand, let alone agree, yet we are real because we have been heard. This is also why mass messaging is so attractive: if there is a response, that is vastly more effective and the more people are contacted, the more likely a response. Finally, of course, it is a two-way process because the responder is no less getting their needs met by responding. Introspection falls into disuse; it has been replaced by a different method of accomplishing the same thing.