Sometimes we may see people with abnormal behavior talking to themselves, but not everyone who talks to themselves aloud is mentally ill. In fact, psychologists say that speaking aloud to oneself has several benefits.
Robert N. Kraft, a cognitive psychology professor at Otterbein University in the United States, analyzed the benefits of talking to oneself aloud in an article on Psychology Today’s website.
Kraft mentioned that he enjoyed talking to himself aloud when he was young. At that time, he thought it was peculiar and unpopular behavior since he hadn’t seen others doing the same. However, when he went to college, he discovered that others also engaged in self-talk. As he became a psychology professor, he observed the commonality and usefulness of self-talk.
He pointed out that inner self-talk is quite common and occupies most of our waking time. While we usually internalize these inner voices as our dominant form of thinking, expressing these inner voices aloud may seem a bit strange.
Interestingly, having a written dialogue with oneself (like keeping a diary) is acceptable and even encouraged. This externalized form of self-dialogue is beneficial for our mental health.
Therefore, considering talking to oneself aloud, a relatively unrestrained behavior, as a healthy and affirming way to externalize our inner voice makes sense. Here are some explanations on when and how speaking aloud to oneself can be helpful:
Speaking aloud before an activity can enhance performance. For instance, basketball players who verbalize their actions before a game tend to perform better. Similarly, artists expressing positive self-talk before a performance can boost motivation.
When faced with challenging learning materials, vocalizing the content of one’s thoughts can increase engagement and make learning more enjoyable. A study conducted with nursing students showed that speaking aloud can enhance the development of clinical reasoning skills and increase satisfaction with learning these skills.
Speaking aloud can help us understand and process unusual and surprising events, as well as distressing developments, such as interpersonal issues and illnesses.
Individuals traveling alone or participating in hiking activities may find that talking to themselves aloud in new environments makes it easier to understand the surroundings and enhances their self-control.
After experiencing discouraging situations like awkward social interactions or disappointing academic performance, speaking aloud can help overcome regrets more effectively and reduce self-criticism.
Talking to oneself aloud helps maintain focus when performing tasks that require several steps, such as assembling IKEA furniture or sewing buttons. For example, while sewing a button, you can tell yourself, “Thread the needle through the hole, be careful with your fingers.”
Self-talk can provide feedback, constructive comments, and behavior reinforcement. For instance, you can say to yourself, “Turn the wrench in the other direction… well done.”
Negative internal self-talk is harmful, as is negative external self-talk. However, it is essential to speak out loud as it makes negative self-talk more apparent, making it easier for us to hear our negative emotions and correct them, thus maximizing the benefits of self-talk.
Self-distancing refers to taking an outsider’s perspective to observe one’s actions and circumstances. Using pronouns like “you” or one’s name in self-talk aloud can promote self-distancing, enhancing our ability to regulate thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
For example, if your name is Emily, when questioning your emotional reactions, you can ask yourself, “Emily, why do you feel this way?”
Using the pronoun “I” in self-talk intertwines speaking and listening to oneself, making it less likely to promote self-distancing and viewing oneself from an outsider’s perspective.
Previous studies found that participants who engaged in self-talk before public speaking, mentioning their name or “you,” performed better than those who used “I.” These individuals also criticized themselves less after the speech and spent less time contemplating their shortcomings.