What term describes the inner dialogue that individuals have with themselves?

The term that best describes the inner dialogue that individuals have with themselves is inner speech. Inner speech refers to the cognitive process where individuals think and process their thoughts through verbal language, often simulating conversations or dialogues within their minds. This phenomenon allows individuals to reflect on their experiences, plan actions, and engage in self-guidance, playing a crucial role in problem-solving and self-regulation.

Self-talk is closely related to inner speech, as it also involves the dialogue individuals have with themselves. However, self-talk can often refer specifically to positive or negative statements made out loud or in one's mind, while inner speech is broader and encompasses all types of internal verbalization.

External dialogue refers to interactions and conversations with others, which is not relevant when discussing one's internal dialogue. Verbal feedback usually pertains to responses given by others about performance or communication, rather than the internal thought processes of an individual. Thus, inner speech is the most precise term for describing the phenomenon of internal dialogue.