Types of Inner Dialogues and Functions of Self-Talk: Comparisons and Implications

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Cognitive Science
• Communication Studies

Background:

• Intrapersonal communication encompasses inner dialogue and self-talk.
• Dialogical Self Theory posits a multifaceted self with multiple inner voices.
• Self-talk serves functions like self-criticism, reinforcement, and social assessment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationships between different types of internal dialogues and the functions of self-talk.
• To explore the overlap and distinctions within intrapersonal communication modes.

Main Methods:

• Survey research involving college students from Poland (n=181) and the United States (n=119).
• Utilized two multidimensional measures assessing inner dialogue and self-talk characteristics.

Main Results:

• Found moderately strong relationships between various inner dialogue types and self-talk functions.
• Indicated significant overlap between inner dialogue and self-talk as modes of communication.

Conclusions:

• The findings support the interconnectedness of inner dialogue and self-talk.
• Implications for understanding similarities and differences in intrapersonal communication varieties are discussed.