WHY WE TALK TO OURSELVES
Have you ever noticed someone talking quietly to themselves in the street or on a bus? Many of us think that this is a strange habit, and some people even feel embarrassed when a friend catches them doing it. But psychologists say that there is nothing wrong with it. In fact, almost everyone talks to themselves from time to time, and new studies show that the habit can actually be useful. It may help us think more clearly and work faster.(lines 1–5)
In one experiment at a university in Canada, researchers gave sixty volunteers a simple task. Each volunteer looked at photos of crowded supermarket shelves and had to find one item, such as a banana or a box of tea, as quickly as possible. Before each search, half of the volunteers said the name of the item aloud*, while the other half stayed silent. The results surprised the researchers. The volunteers who did the search after saying the name found the item much faster than the silent group. According to the researchers, hearing the word helped the brain remember what the item looked like.(lines 6–12)
In another study, researchers interviewed forty young tennis players about their matches. Many of the players said that they often spoke to themselves during a game. When they did this, they felt more confident* and made fewer mistakes. Most of them used very short phrases, for example "Focus!" or "Come on!"(lines 13–16)
Dr. Laura Benson, a psychologist who studies this habit, explains why it works. "When we speak, we hear our own voice, and the brain pays more attention to words that it hears than to silent thoughts," she says. "That is why a plan that you say aloud becomes clearer." She adds that talking to yourself has other benefits, too. People who do it can control their feelings better before an exam. They can also solve difficult problems step by step.(lines 17–21)
However, Dr. Benson has one piece of advice. She suggests talking to yourself by name, the way a coach talks to a player. For example, say "Dana, you can do this" instead of "I can do this." According to Benson, this small change helps people stay calm when they are under pressure.(lines 22–24)