Exploring Self-Talk in Response to Disruptive and Emotional Events

Abstract

Research on the nature and processes of intrapersonal communication (e.g., self-talk, internal dialogues, etc.) have mainly utilized non-experimental methods. Correlational studies do not permit the examination of possible causal links between self-talk/internal dialogue and other psychological concepts. The present study provides an example of an experimental approach to studying intrapersonal communication. We test the role of self-talk under conditions of cognitive disruption, anxiety, and sadness using a 2 (pre/post) X 4 (condition) mixed methods design (N = 211). Following an initial assessment of self-talk, we randomly assigned participants to one of four recall groups: a recent situation when they experienced cognitive disruption, anxiety, or sadness, or a control condition. The experimental groups recalled their self-talk during the time the event occurred, while the control group reported their current self-talk again. Results indicated participants in the anxiety and sadness conditions reported significantly greater self-talk than the control condition. In addition, typical levels of self-talk frequency (particularly self-critical self-talk) were related to several variables, such as cognitive disruption and intrusive thoughts. The results are consistent with previous findings on the relationship between self-talk/internal dialogues and anxiety and negative emotions. We discuss ways that similar methods might be used to facilitate further experimental studies with Dialogical Self Theory.