Words and Feelings

A few days ago I was chatting with our son about internal dialogues. We were discussing the differences between people who seem to debate within themselves when issues have to be resolved compared to people who apparently don’t do that. Our son found that ChatGPT gave him a good summary of the idea, so I asked Copilot AI this question –

"What are the differences between people with strong and weak internal dialogue?"

That’s a fascinating question—our inner voice (or lack thereof) can shape how we think, feel, and navigate the world in ways most of us don’t even notice.

People with strong internal dialogue often:

• Think in words: They narrate their thoughts, reflect deeply, and sometimes even “talk themselves through” decisions or emotions.
• Have rich self-awareness: They may be more introspective and analytical, able to reason through complex situations internally.
• Experience inner debates: Pros and cons play out like a conversation in their minds.
• Rely on verbal memory: They might recall things better through spoken or written words than images.

Meanwhile, people with weak or absent internal dialogue might:

• Think in images, sensations, or abstract impressions: Their thought process could be more visual or conceptual.
• Experience quieter minds: This doesn’t mean shallow thought—it could be more intuitive or emotionally guided rather than verbalized.
• Struggle to “talk through” problems internally: They might prefer journaling, discussing aloud, or physically acting something out.
• Excel in non-verbal problem solving: Spatial reasoning, creativity, or hands-on learning might come more naturally.

Neither style is better—just different cognitive tools for different people. Some people even shift styles depending on the situation.


It's an interesting aspect of psychology because some obvious questions arise such as –

Who should be making decisions about Net Zero? 

Which type of person do we vote for? 

Which type of person must major political parties cater for?

The AI system also added -

According to psychologist Russell Hurlburt, about 30–50% of people regularly experience internal monologues. These individuals often use their inner voice for planning, self-reflection, and emotional regulation.

In which case, about 50-70% of people don't do that.