The Secret Life of Your Inner Monologue: Navigating and Harnessing Your Inner Voice

In this episode of PsyberSpace, host Leslie Poston explores the concept of the inner monologue, discussing its origins, functions, and variations across individuals and cultures. The episode digs into the impact of internal speech on decision making, emotional regulation, and self-identity. Leslie also addresses how disorders like ADHD and anxiety affect inner voices, offering practical strategies for managing critical self-talk and cultivating a more supportive inner dialogue. Listeners are encouraged to observe and reframe their inner thoughts to enhance mental wellbeing and performance.

00:00 Introduction: The Inner Monologue
00:49 The Role and Impact of Inner Speech
04:05 Development of Inner Speech
07:07 Variations in Inner Speech
09:34 Inner Speech and Mental Health
20:58 Transforming Your Inner Critic
24:18 Conclusion: Embracing Your Inner Voice

Research

Alderson-Day, B., & Fernyhough, C. (2015). Inner speech: Development, cognitive functions, phenomenology, and neurobiology. Psychological Bulletin, 141(5), 931–965. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4538954

Dahò, M., & Monzani, D. (2025). The multifaceted nature of inner speech: Neural and phenomenological perspectives. Cognitive Neuropsychology, 12(3), 145–167. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40611622/

Gregory, D. (2020). Inner speech: New voices. Analysis, Volume 80, Issue 1, January 2020, Pages 164–173, https://doi.org/10.1093/analys/anz096

Gregory, D., & Langland-Hassan, P. (2023). Inner speech. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. https://plato.stanford.edu/entries/inner-speech/

Hurlburt, R. T., Heavey, C. L., & Kelsey, J. M. (2013). Toward a phenomenology of inner speaking. Consciousness and Cognition. 22(4) Pages 1477-1494

McCarthy-Jones, S., & Fernyhough, C. (2011). The varieties of inner speech: Links between quality of inner speech and psychopathological variables in a sample of young adults. Consciousness and Cognition, 20(4), 1586–1593. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21880511/

Morin, A. (2003). Inner speech and conscious experience. Science & Consciousness Review, No 4. https://journalpsyche.org/articles/0xc094.pdf

Nedergaard, J. S. K., & Lupyan, G. (2024). Not everybody has an inner voice: Behavioral consequences of anendophasia. Psychological Science, 35(4), 344–360. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/09567976241243004

Alderson-Day, B. & Pearson, A. (2023). What can neurodiversity tell us about inner speech, and vice versa? A theroetical perspectiv. Cortex, 168, Pages 193-202 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S001094522300206X

Vicente, A., & Martinez Manrique, F. (2011). Inner Speech: Nature and Functions. Philosophy Compass, 6, 209-219. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1747-9991.2010.00369.x