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Self-Talk

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Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

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Synonyms

Egocentric speech; Inner speech; Internal dialogue; Internal monologue; Private speech; Verbal rehearsal and self-statements

Definition

Self-talk refers to a person’s talk to oneself about oneself (e.g., [4, 29, 31, 33]). Self-talk includes all the intentional and automatic self-focused aloud or within one’s own thoughts that run through an individual’s mind [9]. The notion of automatic self-talk emphasizes that individuals are not always aware of doing so [35].

Description

Self-talk seems to be one of the most frequent cognitive activities in human life, in that almost every minute of our waking lives we talk to ourselves [24]. Hence, it is plausible, following the common notion in psychology that emotions and behavior can be generated through multiple cognitive processes, to assume that self-talk may provide a direct impetus for human emotion and behavior [10]. Yet on the other hand, it could be expected that the emotional states that are activated by self-talk may...

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Roehampton University, London, UK

    Changiz Mohiyeddini

  2. School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue, London, SW15 4JD, UK

    Cecilia A. Essau

Authors
  1. Changiz Mohiyeddini
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  2. Cecilia A. Essau
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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Mohiyeddini, C., Essau, C.A. (2011). Self-Talk. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2565

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2565

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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