Key insights

• 🗣️ Talking to yourself is a common behavior supported by psychology research
• 💬 Self-talk, also known as inner speech, involves verbalized thoughts directed toward oneself or some facet of life
• 👶 Vocal self-talk in children is essential for development and may evolve into internal self-dialogue
• 🎾 Instructional and motivational self-talk can increase focus, boost self-esteem, and improve performance
• 😌 Positive self-talk can help regulate emotions and reduce stress, while negative self-talk can be harmful
• 🧠 Negative self-talk is predictive of anxiety and depression, and Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on regulating self-talk
• 🔍 Studying self-talk is challenging due to its spontaneous nature
• 👤 Distanced self-talk involves talking to oneself as if in conversation with another person

Q&A

• What is the impact of negative self-talk?

  Negative self-talk can be toxic and is predictive of anxiety and depression. Constant self-blame and rumination due to negative self-talk can lead to intense feelings of depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on regulating self-talk by identifying and replacing negative thoughts with more compassionate reflections to improve mental health.

• Can self-talk regulate emotions and reduce stress?

  Talking to oneself in a positive way can help regulate emotions and reduce stress. Additionally, distanced self-talk, which involves talking to oneself as if in conversation with another person, is one approach that can be effective in managing emotions and stress levels.

• How can self-talk impact attitude and performance?

  Instructional and motivational self-talk can positively impact attitude and performance by increasing focus, boosting self-esteem, and improving overall performance. For instance, a study of collegiate tennis players demonstrated the benefits of instructional self-talk in increasing concentration and accuracy.

• What is vocal self-talk in children and its significance?

  Vocal self-talk in children is essential for development. It may evolve into internal self-dialogue, which is important for planning, problem-solving, and motivation. Lev Vygotsky's hypothesis underscores the significance of self-talk in children's cognitive development.

• What is self-talk?

  Self-talk, also known as inner speech, refers to the verbalized thoughts directed toward oneself or some facet of life. It includes both personal conversations and reflections throughout the day. Psychologists believe that self-talk, whether internal or spoken aloud, plays a significant role in our experiences.

• 00:07 Talking to yourself is normal and common, contrary to stigmas and misconceptions. Psychology research supports the prevalence of self-talk in daily life.
• 00:52 Self-talk, also known as inner speech, refers to the verbalized thoughts directed toward oneself or some facet of life. It includes both personal conversations and reflections throughout the day. Psychologists believe that self-talk, whether internal or spoken aloud, plays a significant role in our experiences.
• 01:40 Children's vocal self-talk plays a vital role in their development and may evolve into internal self-dialogue.
• 02:25 Self-talk can impact attitude and performance. Instructional and motivational self-talk can increase focus, boost self-esteem, and improve performance, as seen in a study of collegiate tennis players.
• 03:15 Talking to yourself in a positive way can help regulate emotions and reduce stress, but negative self-talk can be harmful.
• 04:02 Negative self-talk can be toxic and is predictive of anxiety and depression. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) focuses on regulating self-talk by identifying and replacing negative thoughts with more compassionate reflections to improve mental health.