The purpose of this study was to examine students' perceptions of the extent to which reflection, a principle of cooperative learning, satisfied their needs for self-worth and belonging. Eight mature preuniversity students completed a scaled questionnaire and took part in a focus group interview following a 12-week preliminary study into the efficacy of reflection. Students perceived reflection as contributing to the satisfaction of their needs for self-worth and belonging. They also perceived reflection as contributing to their needs for acceptance. This was unexpected and is perhaps critical, as acceptance might be a condition of effective learning. Hence this article calls for further research into reflection in relation to acceptance and the role these play in contributing to effective learning and teaching.