Inner Voice
Tools
Cost of Chatter
Toolkit
Examples
100

Ethan Kross’s specific term for the "dark side" of our inner voice.

What is chatter?

100

The inner voice is considered an incredible device for this.

What is problem-solving?

100

Chatter is harmful because it consumes this limited mental resource, making it hard to focus.

What is attention?

100

This "sequence of behaviors" rigidly performed can help restore a sense of order.

What is a ritual?

100

Rafael Nadal uses water bottle rituals to manage the voices in his head while playing this sport.

What is tennis?

200

We spend this fraction of our waking hours not living in the present.

 What is 50%?

200

This mental system uses the inner voice to keep verbal information active in our heads.

What is the memory system?

200

Chatter creates friction in these by making us poor listeners who repeat our problems.

What are relationships?

200

Chatter often makes us lose this, but rituals help us regain it.

What is control?

200

Nadal places his water bottles in this specific position relative to the court.

What is on a diagonal?

300

This term describes the tendency to get stuck in a negative cycle of repetitive thinking about a problem.

What is rumination?

300

The inner voice helps us prepare for future events by doing this, like practicing a speech.

What is simulating (or planning)?

300

This two-word term describes attacking others just because of the irritability caused by chatter.

What is displaced aggression?

300

According to Kross, the science-based toolkit involves interacting with these three things (name one).

What are ourselves, other people, or physical environments?

300

Nadal says managing his "chatter" is the hardest thing he does in this location.

What is on the tennis court?

400

When we imagine the worst possible outcome of a situation, we are doing this

What is catastrophizing?

400

The inner voice provides a "survival advantage" by allowing us to communicate with this person.

Who is ourselves?

400

Stress becomes toxic when it remains in this state for an extended period.

What is elevated (or "increased", or "high")?

400

Kross states that there is no "one" tool that works for this.

What is all people/all situations?

400

This inner voice phase can help you "control yourself" when reaching for a late-night treat.

What is "don't do it"?

500

Ethan Kross holds a professor position in these two fields at the University of Michigan. (list one)

What are Psychology and Management?

500

The inner voice helps us "storify" our lives to give shape to this sense of who we are.

What is identity?

500

Chronic stress from chatter is linked to these two physical ailments (name one).

What is cardiovascular disease, chronic inflammation, or cancer?

500

The goal of the toolkit is to do this to our inner voice rather than silencing it.

What is harness it (or control it)?

500

Experiencing chatter doesn't make you "weak"; Kross says it simply makes you this.

What is human?