Reconsidering intrapersonal communication through an interdisciplinary lens

Intrapersonal communication is a classification of phenomena such as self-talk and imagined interactions in which communicative messages are contained within a single individual and internal systems comprise both sender and receiver roles. Historically, the construct has met criticism with objections rooted in the notion that intrapersonal communication is simply a form of social cognition, but not all self-communicative behaviors have clear or empirically defined social cognitive connections. Self-directed behaviors, from inner speech to mindfulness, permit individuals to shape and interpret their experiences. Empirical examination of these phenomena would benefit from a unified framework. Relevant work is discussed supporting the perspective that intrapersonal communication constitutes a valuable interdisciplinary classification, including early research, functional and developmental approaches, and current connected methodologies and their limitations. A theoretical model is proposed that can guide understanding of the boundaries of intrapersonal communication by characterizing sender and receiver roles in the intrapersonal interaction based on active and inactive status.