Dr. Ethan Kross

Yeah, so I think this is a great question because the inner voice is something that we carry with us wherever we go, but we don't tend to learn what it is, right? And actually, sometimes I get up there and speak to people and... they often wonder like, what is a purported serious scientist doing talking about a squishy topic like the voice inside our heads?

Yeah, so I think this is a great question because the inner voice is something that we carry with us wherever we go, but we don't tend to learn what it is, right? And actually, sometimes I get up there and speak to people and... they often wonder like, what is a purported serious scientist doing talking about a squishy topic like the voice inside our heads?

Yeah, so I think this is a great question because the inner voice is something that we carry with us wherever we go, but we don't tend to learn what it is, right? And actually, sometimes I get up there and speak to people and... they often wonder like, what is a purported serious scientist doing talking about a squishy topic like the voice inside our heads?

And it turns out that this is a remarkable tool of the human mind. So when I use the term inner voice, what I'm talking about is our ability to silently use language to reflect on things in our lives. And it turns out that's a type of Swiss army knife that we possess. It lets us do many different things. So just from the outset, Let me distinguish chatter from other inner voice operations.

And it turns out that this is a remarkable tool of the human mind. So when I use the term inner voice, what I'm talking about is our ability to silently use language to reflect on things in our lives. And it turns out that's a type of Swiss army knife that we possess. It lets us do many different things. So just from the outset, Let me distinguish chatter from other inner voice operations.

And it turns out that this is a remarkable tool of the human mind. So when I use the term inner voice, what I'm talking about is our ability to silently use language to reflect on things in our lives. And it turns out that's a type of Swiss army knife that we possess. It lets us do many different things. So just from the outset, Let me distinguish chatter from other inner voice operations.

I think of chatter as the dark side of the inner voice, and we'll get to that in a little bit. But having the ability to silently use language That is a boon to the human condition. So I'll give you a couple of benefits that it serves. What's your favorite sports team?

I think of chatter as the dark side of the inner voice, and we'll get to that in a little bit. But having the ability to silently use language That is a boon to the human condition. So I'll give you a couple of benefits that it serves. What's your favorite sports team?

I think of chatter as the dark side of the inner voice, and we'll get to that in a little bit. But having the ability to silently use language That is a boon to the human condition. So I'll give you a couple of benefits that it serves. What's your favorite sports team?

Okay. Sorry for the Washington Generals. So if you were to go to a game and root for them, what would you say? Go Globetrotters. Go Globetrotters. Okay. Can you repeat that phrase silently three times in your head right now? Yes. Okay. You've just used your inner voice.

Okay. Sorry for the Washington Generals. So if you were to go to a game and root for them, what would you say? Go Globetrotters. Go Globetrotters. Okay. Can you repeat that phrase silently three times in your head right now? Yes. Okay. You've just used your inner voice.

Okay. Sorry for the Washington Generals. So if you were to go to a game and root for them, what would you say? Go Globetrotters. Go Globetrotters. Okay. Can you repeat that phrase silently three times in your head right now? Yes. Okay. You've just used your inner voice.

So your inner voice is part of what we call our verbal working memory system, basic system of the human mind that lets us do something that I think is both extraordinary, but totally ordinary also. Your verbal working memory system, it's a mouthful, lets you keep information active for short periods of time. So before we had cell phones, How did you memorize phone numbers?

So your inner voice is part of what we call our verbal working memory system, basic system of the human mind that lets us do something that I think is both extraordinary, but totally ordinary also. Your verbal working memory system, it's a mouthful, lets you keep information active for short periods of time. So before we had cell phones, How did you memorize phone numbers?

So your inner voice is part of what we call our verbal working memory system, basic system of the human mind that lets us do something that I think is both extraordinary, but totally ordinary also. Your verbal working memory system, it's a mouthful, lets you keep information active for short periods of time. So before we had cell phones, How did you memorize phone numbers?

Interesting. Well, it's funny. When I go through this content, I give talks or workshops, I often say, 2090501, repeat that in your head three times. That's my childhood phone number. I'm like, go give it a shot. Give them a call. So for all I know, that person may be getting lots of phone calls. It's not my phone number. Um, But that's your verbal working memory system.

Interesting. Well, it's funny. When I go through this content, I give talks or workshops, I often say, 2090501, repeat that in your head three times. That's my childhood phone number. I'm like, go give it a shot. Give them a call. So for all I know, that person may be getting lots of phone calls. It's not my phone number. Um, But that's your verbal working memory system.

Interesting. Well, it's funny. When I go through this content, I give talks or workshops, I often say, 2090501, repeat that in your head three times. That's my childhood phone number. I'm like, go give it a shot. Give them a call. So for all I know, that person may be getting lots of phone calls. It's not my phone number. Um, But that's your verbal working memory system.

You go to the grocery store and you try to remember what you were supposed to get. Most people don't do that out loud. Like, oh crap, what was I supposed to get? Milk, cheese, eggs. You repeat that silently in your head. So that's one thing your inner voice allows you to do. Keep information active, verbal information. Your inner voice also helps you simulate and plan.

You go to the grocery store and you try to remember what you were supposed to get. Most people don't do that out loud. Like, oh crap, what was I supposed to get? Milk, cheese, eggs. You repeat that silently in your head. So that's one thing your inner voice allows you to do. Keep information active, verbal information. Your inner voice also helps you simulate and plan.