Reconsidering intrapersonal communication through an interdisciplinary lens

Intrapersonal communication is a classification of phenomena such as self-talk and imagined interactions in which communicative messages are contained within a single individual and internal systems comprise both sender and receiver roles. Historically, the construct has met criticism with objection...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Constance Bainbridge, Gregory Bryant, Rick Dale
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-08-01
Series:Frontiers in Psychology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1569493/full
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Summary:Intrapersonal communication is a classification of phenomena such as self-talk and imagined interactions in which communicative messages are contained within a single individual and internal systems comprise both sender and receiver roles. Historically, the construct has met criticism with objections rooted in the notion that intrapersonal communication is simply a form of social cognition, but not all self-communicative behaviors have clear or empirically defined social cognitive connections. Self-directed behaviors, from inner speech to mindfulness, permit individuals to shape and interpret their experiences. Empirical examination of these phenomena would benefit from a unified framework. Relevant work is discussed supporting the perspective that intrapersonal communication constitutes a valuable interdisciplinary classification, including early research, functional and developmental approaches, and current connected methodologies and their limitations. A theoretical model is proposed that can guide understanding of the boundaries of intrapersonal communication by characterizing sender and receiver roles in the intrapersonal interaction based on active and inactive status.
ISSN:1664-1078