Inner Voice Type Test

The Inner Voice Type Test is a powerful tool for exploring the complexities of self-talk, rooted in rigorous psychological research.

Developed with inspiration from Thomas M. Brinthaupt’s work at Middle Tennessee State University, the test builds on the Self-Talk Scale (Brinthaupt et al., 2009, Journal of Personality Assessment), which established a framework for measuring self-talk functions like self-criticism, self-reinforcement, self-management, and social assessment.

This scale, validated through studies with diverse populations, provides a foundation for understanding how internal dialogue influences behavior and mental health.

By categorizing self-talk into six dimensions—critical, supportive, analytical, emotional, dialogical, and motivational—the Inner Voice Type Test offers a nuanced lens into the inner workings of the mind.

Further grounding the test is research from Ben Alderson-Day and colleagues at Durham University, whose Varieties of Inner Speech Questionnaire-Revised (VISQ-R; Alderson-Day et al., 2018, Consciousness and Cognition) explores dialogic and positive inner speech.

Their work at Durham’s Department of Psychology highlights how some individuals engage in multi-perspective internal dialogues, simulating conversations that enhance decision-making and identity integration.

This dialogical aspect, a key dimension of the test, reflects how inner voices can mimic social interactions, offering a dynamic way to process thoughts.

Additionally, the test draws on Piotr K. Oleś’s research at the John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Poland, particularly his 2020 study in Frontiers in Psychology (Oleś et al., 2020). Oleś, alongside Brinthaupt, examined types of inner dialogues, identifying supportive, rivalrous, and ambivalent voices that shape self-perception.

This work underscores the motivational and dialogical dimensions of the test, revealing how internal voices can drive goal pursuit or foster self-reflection.

Małgorzata Puchalska-Wasyl, also at the Catholic University of Lublin, contributed to this framework with her 2015 study in Polish Psychological Bulletin, exploring personality correlates of dialogical self-talk, which informs the test’s emphasis on multi-perspective inner speech.

The motivational dimension is further supported by James Hardy’s research at Bangor University, whose studies on athlete self-talk (Hardy et al., 2001, Journal of Applied Sport Psychology) and meta-analyses (Hatzigeorgiadis et al., 2011, Perspectives on Psychological Science) demonstrate how self-reinforcing talk enhances performance.

Conducted at Bangor’s School of Sport, Health and Exercise Sciences, this work highlights the goal-oriented nature of motivational self-talk, a key component of the Inner Voice Type Test.

Charles Fernyhough at Durham University also informs the emotional expressiveness dimension through his book The Voices Within (2016) and related studies, which explore how inner speech reflects emotional states.

Winsler’s work at George Mason University (2009, Private Speech, Executive Functioning, and Verbal Self-Regulation) further supports the analytical dimension, emphasizing logical self-talk in problem-solving.

By integrating these findings, the Inner Voice Type Test offers a comprehensive tool for self-discovery.

Whether used in personal growth, therapy, or research, it leverages insights from leading institutions like Middle Tennessee State, Durham, Catholic University of Lublin, Bangor, and George Mason to help individuals understand their internal voices—fostering emotional regulation, resilience, and healthier decision-making.