Inner Voice
True or False:
Your inner voice impacts emotion regulation.
True
Your inner voice is a dynamic, individualized phenomenon that helps you think, plan, and regulate emotions, bridging the gap between external language and internal thought.
True or False
Multiple areas of your brain interact to create your inner voice.
True
The inner voice is not a single entity but a product of multiple brain regions working together.
True or False:
self-talk is fixed after childhood.
False
Even after childhood, your self‑talk is updated by current experiences, stressors, and the way you interpret events. Negative self‑talk can be reinforced by past failures, anticipated threats, or habitual rumination.
True or False
Your inner voice is changeable.
You can transform your inner voice by becoming aware of your self‑talk, using third‑person distancing, reframing criticism into constructive dialogue, and building daily habits that reinforce positive self‑messages.
What natural disaster is measured with a Richter scale?
earthquakes
True or False:
People are born with an inner voice.
Infants are born without an internal monologue; their experiences are purely sensory, such as hunger or discomfort, without verbal commentary.
True or False:
The brain sends motor commands to the vocal muscles during self-talk.
True
Electromyography studies show that subtle motor commands are sent to the vocal muscles during inner speech, even though no sound is produced, indicating that the brain simulates speaking internally
Give a specific example of something that might cause a -person to have self-critical beliefs about themselves.
Open answer
example: A parent who says “You’ll never do that right” may plant a self‑critical belief that persists long after the child forgets the original words.
True or False:
Self talk is a fixed trait.
False
Changing your inner voice is a skill built over time. Expect initial awkwardness, then gradually notice your self‑talk becoming calmer, kinder, and more empowering
How many teeth does an adult human have?
32
What is your inner voice?
Your inner voice is essentially the internalized form of self-directed speech.
Name 2 of the brain regions that impact your inner voice that were discussed in the presentation.
Wernicke's Area
Prefrontal cortex
Amygdala
What is negativity bias?
Your brain is wired to notice and respond more strongly to negative information than to positive or neutral cues, a pattern called negativity bias.
True or False
Talking to yourself in the third person can increase emotional reactivity.
False
Psychologist Ethan Kross’s research shows that talking to yourself in the third person (e.g., “Alanna, you’ve got this”) creates psychological distance, reducing emotional reactivity and improving problem‑solving.
What is the most consumed drink in the world after water?
tea
At what age to children start using private speech?
Around ages two to three, as children learn to speak, they begin talking to themselves aloud while playing, a behavior known as private speech
Which portion of your brain is most responsible for the emotional tone of your inner voice?
Amygdala
What is Introjection?
Children absorb the language, attitudes, and rules of caregivers, teachers, and peers through a process called introjection — internalizing others’ statements as if they were your own.
What is the first step towards changing your inner voice?
The first step is awareness. Pay attention throughout the day to the words and tone you use when talking to yourself. Notice patterns and label them as self‑critical. This awareness is the foundation for change.
What is the primary gas found in the Earth’s atmosphere?
What is private speech?
Around ages two to three, as children learn to speak, they begin talking to themselves aloud while playing, a behavior known as private speech,.
Which portion of your brain is responsible for speech production?
Broca's Area
Name 3 places that the content of our self-talk can come from that were discussed in the presentation.
Biology and Evolutionary Roots
Childhood and early relationships
Social and cultural influences
Developmental Process
Ongoing Reinforcement
What are two supportive habits that were discussed in the presentation?
Reset with mindful breathing
Reframing criticism
Reflection and Journaling
Practicing Gratitude
Spending time in supportive environments
Who was the famous female Egyptian pharaoh who built many monuments?
Hatshepsut