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Why Do People Talk To Themselves

People commonly engage in internal dialogues and self-talk both consciously and subconsciously. Studies show that 96% of adults report having an internal dialogue, while 25% talk to themselves out loud. There are a few theories for why people talk to themselves. Some research suggests that those who are lonely or socially isolated may use self-talk to fill social needs. Other studies indicate that stressful or anxiety-provoking events can lead to cognitive disruptions and more self-talk. Self-talk can be positive, negative, instructional, or motivational in nature. While self-talk is normal, uncontrolled or confusing self-talk could indicate a mental health issue.

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184 views2 pages

Why Do People Talk To Themselves

People commonly engage in internal dialogues and self-talk both consciously and subconsciously. Studies show that 96% of adults report having an internal dialogue, while 25% talk to themselves out loud. There are a few theories for why people talk to themselves. Some research suggests that those who are lonely or socially isolated may use self-talk to fill social needs. Other studies indicate that stressful or anxiety-provoking events can lead to cognitive disruptions and more self-talk. Self-talk can be positive, negative, instructional, or motivational in nature. While self-talk is normal, uncontrolled or confusing self-talk could indicate a mental health issue.

Uploaded by

adnan saputra2022
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Why Do People Talk to Themselves?

Self-talk refers to the internal dialogue or the thoughts and statements that individuals
have in their minds. It is the ongoing conversation that people have with themselves,
often in response to events, situations, or their own experiences. Self-talk can be both
conscious and subconscious, and it encompasses the thoughts, beliefs, and
commentary that shape how individuals perceive themselves, interpret the world around
them, and respond to various situations.

According to one study, 96% of adults say they have an internal dialogue. While self-
talk out loud is less common, 25% of the adults say they do it. Many people talk to
themselves in everyday situations. There’s a stigma around talking to yourself out loud
in public, but doing it can help you understand the world around you. When you talk to
yourself you’re intentionally taking in your surroundings.

Social Isolation
One theory suggests that people who spend more time alone may be more likely to talk
to themselves. Because they have fewer interactions with others, their self-talk may
serve as a form of social communication. There is a fair amount of research supporting
this theory. Studies have shown that adults who were an only-child are more likely to
engage in external self-talk. Another study found that people who are lonely and have a
strong need to belong are also more likely to talk to themselves. Self-talk, in this case,
serves to fill a need that isn't being met by limited or unsatisfactory social relationships.

Cognitive Disruption
This theory suggests that people may talk to themselves out loud due to cognitively
disruptive events that are often brought on by stress or other similar events. For
example, feelings of anxiety or obsessive-compulsive tendencies can create cognitive
disruptions linked to increases in self-talk. For example, one study found that people
tend to talk to themselves more when preparing to give a speech if they are anxious
about public speaking. The study also demonstrated the impact of positive and negative
self-talk. Those who talked to themselves in a negative or self-critical way were more
likely to experience increased public speaking anxiety.
Types of self-talk

There are a few different types of ways that you might talk to yourself. Self-talk tends to
be either positive or negative, but it can also differ in terms of its intended purpose.

1. Positive and negative self-talk: Talking to yourself in a positive way may involve
delivering self-affirmations or statements designed to help you stay motivated and
inspired. Talking to yourself in a negative way often centers on statements that are
self-critical or blaming.
2. Instructional self-talk: This form of self-directed speech is centered on talking
through the steps that you will need to follow in order to solve a problem or perform
a task.
3. Motivational self-talk: This type of speech is focused on providing encouragement
to perform a task. For example, you might congratulate yourself for your efforts or
remind yourself that you are capable of succeeding.

Self-talk is a normal and natural part of being human. People talk to themselves for
many reasons, including self-criticism, self-reinforcement, self-management, social
assessment, problem-solving, and motivation. Sometimes, however, self-talk can be a
cause for concern. It could be a symptom of a mental illness if it's uncontrollable, is
associated with high levels of anxiety or symptoms of depression, or if the words are
confusing and don't make sense. If this is the case, speak to a mental health provider.

Papers by:
Melissa Porrey LPC, NCC
Kendra Cherry, MSEd

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