How often do you talk to yourself?

[speiss]

I've always had that little box in my signature, but I never really took the time to research the word "intrapersonal" until now. Looking it up briefly in the dictionary didn't do me any good, so I turned to wikipedia. It turns out that it means something along the lines of communication within oneself, such as, as the title suggests, talking to oneself, having internal and external monologues, hand movements while you're thinking... and so on and so forth.

For the record, I talk to myself constantly. I don't even think about it most of the time; I'll just be in my room, walking around, cleaning up, or be on my computer... or reading book... just talking, thinking aloud. I do it pretty loudly too when I think nobody's around xD It's always embarrassing when my little brother comes out of his room and looks at me like I'm a complete weirdo.

 

[kinetickyle]

I talk to myself constantly. Out loud when I'm alone or in the company of people I know. When I'm hoping to not appear crazy around strangers and those I don't know very well, I keep it internal. But even when I don't vocalize my soliloquies, there is still sentence structure, word choice, syntax, etc. All the elements of spoken language. And there's rarely anyone around to hear it.

 

[dark]

I tend to do the same thing. If people are around I tend to only talk to myself in my head, which I carry on around 5 conversations with my self at one time. If I wasn't constantly around people I would probably always be talking out loud to myself.

But when I am alone in the car I tend to talk to myself the entire time. I bring out my many persona when doing so. All my different types of people in my head. When I am out walking alone, which I tend to not do because I tend to always have someone with me, I do the talking to myself.

 

[gruesomebrat]

I'm usually talking to myself internally. I don't often let myself indulge in speaking to myself out loud, simply because it's faster and more efficient to keep it n my head. Occasionally, though, it does seem to help to have that more concrete manifestation of my ideas. Too many occasions of letting myself talk in front of others and being labeled strange or weird because of that have made me very cautious about talking to myself aloud, but if I'm in the presence of people who I'm really comfortable with, or in complete solitude, I have no trouble doing it... going out biking tends to be great for my thought processes, as it's something that my body can do almost instinctively, and I'm completely alone, even if I'm riding in a group. Keeping my body occupied is a must if I'm going to be doing a lot of thinking, though, and solitude generally helps because it means there's no interruptions to my train of thought.

 

[Meer]

Of course there's always a conversation or dialogue in my head. When I'm alone I might vocalize some of it, usually angry vulgarities or laughter.

I'm pretty sure 'intrapersonal' encompasses more than just communicating with yourself, but being aware of and figuring out things inside of you.

 

[speiss]

Really? Well, I'm awful at understanding myself, so I don't know what this intelligence test is going on about.

 

[Meer]

Not necessarily understanding yourself, but seeking to and looking inwards and blah blah blah blah.

Or maybe you misinterpreted a bunch of questions.

 

[speiss]

Probably. I don't even remember the questions.

 

[cheese]

All that test measures is what you think you're good at, and what you tend to prefer doing. It could only accurately identify your intelligence in areas if it measured your ability to do certain tasks apart from your own perception of success. iirc it doesn't.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

The only time I've ever full on talked to myself, that I can recall, I was on drugs. My inner-self was far too busy coming to deep realisations with regards to the multi-dimensional nature of reality, so I was muttering something, probably related, to myself out loud.

I'm talking to myself internally fucking constantly, just letting a stream of consciousness out inside my head. I'll whisper too sometimes, which I think has the effect of cementing what I'm thinking about, making that sort of the focal point, rather than my head going off in whatever the fuck direction it wants.

 

[Awaken]

Talk to yourself in your head? Isnt that called thinking?

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

I assume some kinds of thinking are more... conversation-ish?

Maybe. Maybe it's just general thinking.

 

[gruesomebrat]

Talk to yourself in your head? Isnt that called thinking?

I assume some kinds of thinking are more... conversation-ish?

Maybe. Maybe it's just general thinking.

Awaken, there is a very subtle difference between talking to yourself internally and simply thinking. Like Artsu said, some types of thinking are more conversational. You form the wording in your mind, prepare your argument, sometimes even anticipate any opposing arguments, and then rehearse it in your head. Think of it as a dress rehearsal for a debate scene, where both sides are played by the same actor, and all the dialogue is silent.

EDIT: This analogy seems lacking now that I've written it down... I'm sorry if it didn't clear up the concept for you.

To contrast that, simply thinking is more like sitting in front of a train yard, watching ideas roll down the tracks, join up with other ideas, and roll on out. It's more about observing and taking note of important threads, than it is about putting together an argument, or trying to vocalize the ideas to yourself.

 

[Awaken]

Gotcha. That makes more sense. Then I probably talk to myself pretty much all day long with the exception of when I meditate at night and am transitioning to sleep. Then my thoughts become more visual as opposed to a conversation. I can always tell the difference because my tongue moves ever so slightly when I am simply "talking to myself in my head". When my tongue stops moving, it turns visual.

VVVVV Depends on whether or not I am consciously looking at them, and on my goals at the time.

 

[Artsu Tharaz]

I think deliberate vs. spontaneous thoughts is a better distinction.

It's all talking. (unless it's not)

Question
Would you describe your thoughts as deliberate - actively being shaped towards some particular goal - or spontaneous - basically, just letting your thoughts unfold, come and go.

 

[EyeSeeCold]

http://intpforum.com/showthread.php?t=9448

 

[Lobstrich]

I've literally never talked to myself, naturally. The only times I've ever talked to myself is because I've tried because I would have seen some character in a movie which I thought was cool as a kid. And it just seemed unatural and useless. I can just think to myself, no need to actually talk.

The only moments I speak words when alone is when I'm practicing pronounciation, or when I read a book, I sometimes want to repeat how they say things if the author explains they way the character said it. Or when I'm just singing along a song I like.

 

[Dr. Freeman]

I only rarely talk to myself, like when rehearsing things I will say to someone.

 

[notrightnow]

I talk to myself pretty frequently. Conversely, I often think I've said something to someone when I've only said it in my head.

 

[Vrecknidj]

I almost never speak aloud to myself. I will sometimes hear my own voice in my head, as it were, but even that's not really close to what I'd call conversational.

Dave

 

[pjoa09]

i think aloud.

shit i am weird then.

like i just walk around talking aloud to myself when I am mildly awkward or nervous in a crowd.

 

[Melkor]

I tend to talk to myself silently.

Sometimes I just internally project onto characters as if I am takng part in a novel, which is much the same thing really...

 

[notrightnow]

Sometimes when I'm talking to myself in my head or muttering quietly and something makes me laugh I end up laugh/talking and say what I'm thinking. My kids find it amusing to make me do this especially in public.

 

[socialexpat]

That depends doesn't it?

Repetition of something that is important and has to be done, is one reason.

I see it sometimes as a way of stressrelief .. When some worthless bugger at work has been annoying me i can get rid of stress in that way while i'm doing something else at the computer for example .. Not saying that it often sounds polite.
And whoever hears it .. Like it or leave it ..

 

[Vecho]

Sometimes I am a commentary of my performance or I just ask questions but sometimes I do talk with myself. Talking,raising questions, I almost feels like a friend.

 

[xbox]

If I were slightly schizophrenic I would be full on talking to myself not caring if people were around, but I mentioned this in another thread awhile ago, that I have so much fun internally talking to the other voices inside my head, and those conversations are just so much more interesting than the ones around me.

 

[scorpiomover]

I do it all the time. I find that it's a great way to work something out. As pjoa09 said, I think aloud. I do it all the time at home. I especially do it when I'm walking. In college, I even used to pace up and down the aisle, and talk to myself, working things out.

About the only time I don't do it, is when I'm typing, probably because typing serves the same purpose: talking, but with my hands.

People have said stuff to me about it. I usually reply that I'm just talking to the most interesting person I know.

 

[Dimensional Transition]

I always think aloud when I'm worried.

'THINK, THINK, WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? COME ON.'

Or sometimes I'll start a sketch between two people, imitating their different voices. It freaks people out sometimes.

 

[Darby]

I watched Neon Genesis Evangelion again about a week ago, and realized the way I talk to myself is very similar to Shinji Ikari. Where he puts other faces on the voices as well as his own face.

 

[Words]

People should be more exact:

On average:

Every minute in a day excluding sleeping time so..

720 times per day.

 

[ProxyAmenRa]

I tell myself I'm pretty just like the rest of the girls. o_O, I kid. I kid. Or don't I? o_O

 

[Darby]

People should be more exact:

If you count the music I play in my head when not talking to myself, then constantly, I always have noise in my head. I also talk to myself before I respond to someone in RL, just to make sure it comes out right. I listen to music because it externalizes the music I play in my head, so I can focus more closely on other things, like being on here, constantly writing and rewriting this post before I get my fingers to move in the first place.

and I have to listen to music to sleep, I simply can't sleep without it, or if I haven't slept in at least 18 hours, and I am simply incapable of holding a conversation in my head any longer.

 

[Puffy]

I think I only talk to myself if an embarassing memory surfaces, in which case I respond with a "shit" or "oh God". This isn't very frequent though..

 

[pjoa09]

If you count the music I play in my head when not talking to myself, then constantly, I always have noise in my head. I also talk to myself before I respond to someone in RL, just to make sure it comes out right. I listen to music because it externalizes the music I play in my head, so I can focus more closely on other things, like being on here, constantly writing and rewriting this post before I get my fingers to move in the first place.

and I have to listen to music to sleep, I simply can't sleep without it, or if I haven't slept in at least 18 hours, and I am simply incapable of holding a conversation in my head any longer.

Same here. Except I think with music in my head. Sometimes I think quicker than I can talk to myself in my head. I try to stop myself and accept the conclusion.

I use soft jazz music when I really feel like I am not going to stop rambling up there.

 

[Darby]

Same here. Except I think with music in my head. Sometimes I think quicker than I can talk to myself in my head. I try to stop myself and accept the conclusion.

I use soft jazz music when I really feel like I am not going to stop rambling up there.

I think it's possible that this very reason is why I like the cello so much, the slow deep constant noise is nice, however, I also like NIN's Closer for the repetitive ticking. usually the softer, slower stuff is what I go for though.

 

[pjoa09]

I think it's possible that this very reason is why I like the cello so much, the slow deep constant noise is nice, however, I also like NIN's Closer for the repetitive ticking. usually the softer, slower stuff is what I go for though.

I don't have much of that, I go for ambient. I love Trent's work with The Social Network. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite sound as comforting without the visuals.

 

[Darby]

I don't have much of that, I go for ambient. I love Trent's work with The Social Network. Unfortunately, it doesn't quite sound as comforting without the visuals.

My taste in music changes a lot, I have to admit, I've been listening to the soundtrack for Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind all day so far and isn't really what I described earlier.

 

[Ex-User (4771)]

I am almost always talking to myself, and the odd part is i rarely do it externally when alone. When i physically talk to myself there are usually people around. I find myself having debates with myself internally, kind of like creating another Athideus inside my mind, but that shares the opposite view point. I feel this allows me to look at things from all angles and is a usefull tool. I will sometimes try to console myself, looking at the situation from a third view point helps me get through the few things i have to deal with.

 

[darude11]

Maybe it is some kind of Ti effects. You are always thinking, when you are alone, you are analyzing, you are organizing things in your mind... Yep, I think we can call it internal dialogue...

And concrete about me: I am allways talking to myself... but not loud... Just the monologue in my mind...

And then there is one part, that have I adapted just week ago. It is part of NLP techniques about something like "clearing mind" or something... I just ask my mind "Yo, what are you thinking about now?" Whatever it will answer me, I then say in my mind "Thank you!"
Or the technique about keeping same face for short period of time. I will just ask my face "Could you keep this face for a while? Thank you!" Believe or not, it somehow works...

 

[ummidk]

I always think aloud when I'm worried.

'THINK, THINK, WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? COME ON.'

Or sometimes I'll start a sketch between two people, imitating their different voices. It freaks people out sometimes.

Lol yes, when I'm worried about something is mainly when I talk to myself, ocassionally otherwise but in either case its never like a sentence, more like a phrase or word of agreeance with myself with that makes any sense.

 

[iAmburn]

I talk to myself any chance I get. I feel like the only person worth having a conversation with, IS myself.

 

[rattymat]

I think you missed the point of the definition intrapersonal.

 

[Bird]

I talk to myself a lot.

Sometimes on purpose, sometimes not.
Sometimes I'll be talking to someone, but
they won't hear me/notice so it's essentially
as though I am talking to myself. Sometimes
I choose to talk to myself. I talk to myself
a lot at work about my coworkers.

 

[nanook]

intrapersonal refers to several stages of psychological development. it refers to regulation of the self, through the self. before that, there has only been impulsive or reflexive interaction with the external world. and the self was influenced by the external world. "push pull". that was inTERpersonal life/conflict. the interpersonal dimension of conflict is maintained later in life, at least as possibility, but a new dimension kicks in. now the self may repress itself or adapt/organize it self internally in ever more sophisticated ways, for the sake of getting along with external reality. being (more or less partially) stuck in the pre-intrapersonal stages goes back to conditioning like autism, psychosis, early forms of narcissism, borderline. intrapersonal stuck-ness or conflict is broadly referred to as neurosis (also higher conflicts like spiritual/existential crisis). you may want to read up an Wikipedia article on heinz kohut's structural 'niveau' (i don't know the english word) which is just one example of stage models. it is used in clinical diagnosis of patients, at least in germany. it assesses their current structural complexity, very loosely. ken wilber explains the details of structural growth in the book transformations of consciousness.

 

[nanook]

in the context of mypersonality.info intrapersonal refers to introversion and interpersonal to extroversion. it does not refer to stages. it's a typical problem of flatland-psychology (psychology which is not aware of stages) that those two (intro extro version) are mixed up with terms of development in problematic ways. roughly speaking introversion may come with higher conscious emphasis/focus on intrapersonal adaption. for extroversion, the intrapersonal adaption is probably more unconscious, or follows different priorities, while the focus is on interaction. but interaction is commonly (in this sick society) achieved by false-self (aka neurosis), and you couldn't have a false self with out conscious or unconscious intrapersonal adaption. but you could be extroverted. so in the end, it never makes sense to use such words in the context of typology.

which leads to the necessity of accepting a broader meaning for the words. washing them out.

 

[Wittgenstein]

I cannot think properly without talking to myself. Of course, by "think properly" I mean "Withdraw entirely into thought, lose track of physical world, wander into kitchen while folding laundry." But I have to talk to myself to do it.

 

[Anthrocide]

I do not think in semantic strings, unless it is remembering a song or statement (in which case someone else is doing so). So I do not talk to myself.

 

[Crazythinker1]

I tend to talk to myself the most when i'm working out a problem or rehearsing what i'm going to say to someone. It seems to help organize my thoughts.

 

[digital angel]

If you're refering to an internal monologue or thinking to myself, then I do this often. I like to think. If you mean talking to oneself out loud, then my answer to the question is rarely.

 

[Chimera]

I always think aloud when I'm worried.

'THINK, THINK, WHAT DO YOU DO NOW? COME ON.'

Or sometimes I'll start a sketch between two people, imitating their different voices. It freaks people out sometimes.

^This.
Except my "sketches" have evolved into a full-blown story, to be continued every time I'm alone. My sister heard me in the middle of it one time and thought I was a different person--the character I was speaking as had a drawling English accent.
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