Final answer:
Self-reflective introspection to understand the components of experience is best associated with Functionalists, who used introspection to analyze conscious experiences and their impact on adaptation to the environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
Self-reflective introspection (looking inward) to discern the elements of experience best describes a technique used by c) Functionalists. Functionalism was an early psychological perspective that focused on how mental activities helped an organism adapt to its environment, emphasizing the role of the mind in interpreting inner experiences and the outside world. This approach involved a method known as introspection, where individuals examined their conscious experiences in an attempt to understand their component parts. This method contrasts with behaviorists who focus on external observable behaviors and with psychoanalysts like Freud who look at unconscious processes and conflicts.