What Is An Inner Monologue, And How Do You Know If You Have One Or Not? Here's Everything You Need To Know

The "inner monologue" debate pops up on social media all the time, and it makes sense why – some people simply don't have one, which confuses those who do (and vice versa). If this is your first time hearing about it – or if you just want to learn more – read on.

What Is an Inner Monologue? 

Simply put, an inner monologue means you hear a voice or thoughts inside your head. I'll give you an example: Someone with it might have a dialogue going on in their mind if they're pondering on what to do. Maybe they're struggling to pick a show to watch. Their inner monologue may say something like, "Man, I'm bored! I guess I'll watch Netflix. Should I just put on what's popular? Or maybe I'll look up current shows. If I can't find anything, I'll just put on my favorite movie." You see, most individuals with an inner voice have quite a noisy brain.

Why Does It Happen?

Inner dialogue occurs due to what is known as the corollary discharge – a brain signal that allows you to distinguish between different sensory experiences, like those created internally or externally. Even individuals who can't hear their own voices experience corollary discharge to a certain degree, as it plays a role in how people process hearing speech. Essentially, your inner monologue helps you hear your thoughts while canceling external stimuli, assisting you with problem-solving, planning, and self-regulation.

If you can’t hear words or have a conversation in your mind, you probably don’t have this. But if you do, this information may not all be that surprising. Perhaps you even thought everyone else has an inner monologue, too.

How Many People Have an Inner Monologue? 

It's difficult to know exactly how many people can hear a voice inside their heads. Psychology professor Russell Hurlburt estimates that between 30% and 50% of individuals experience an inner voice. Other researchers have concluded that the numbers are much higher, with one study actually suggesting that people experience it 75% of the time. 

Needless to say, we probably sound insane to those who don't have an internal monologue (which is understandable). Now, not having one isn't necessarily a good or bad thing, it just means your brain functions differently! While a lot of people seem to “hear” their thoughts, others actually “see” or “feel” instead.

What’s It Like Not Having an Internal Monologue?

Madison Epting, a writer who doesn't have an internal monologue, describes how her mind responds to information. “My responses to information in any facet come in two forms – auditory and visual. So for myself personally, I see the words a person is speaking as they would appear being typed on the page of a computer screen and never once will hear the person’s voice speaking them, nor my own,” she explained. 

Epting continued, “If a person expresses a feeling of heartbreak, I do not replay the words in any one voice inside of my head, but rather picture a physical heart splitting in two along with a sound that can be associated with the thought – perhaps stepping on eggshells or the sound of a steel-toed boot smashing a fragile object resting on the ground.”

As you can see, while you may be hearing yourself think about how much you want to go shopping, others may just feel the urge to go or conjure up an image of a mall instead.

Why Is This Information Shocking to So Many People?

We can’t read minds, and many of us just kind of assumed that because we’ve done something our entire lives, then it must mean others did the same as well. Tons of people with an internal monologue believed everyone else had one – after all, it’s something they’ve naturally lived with, like breathing or walking. 

Those who don’t have an internal monologue are just as surprised when they learn that people can hear a voice in their heads. Since they've never experienced it for themselves, it can be a difficult concept to grasp. 

Closing Thoughts

Researchers aren't exactly sure why some individuals lack an inner monologue, and as stated before, those who don’t have one just process information differently. This concept has gone viral on social media many times, and people are often quick to judge those with a more silent mind. You might have heard others call them NPCs (non-player characters), robots, or soulless beings. This, of course, cannot be further from the truth. It just means everyone’s brains are wired differently – and that’s what makes humans unique and wonderful. 

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