Intrapersonal communication

[forsyth]

if I fail my communications class, it will probably be for disagreeing with the teacher. Though some of the disagreements seem to be of a more philosophical nature, such as this one. One of the subjects she and our book both mention is "intrapersonal communication," which is communicating with yourself. But I'm like "Dude, communication requires at least two people." She just said "That's an interesting viewpoint" and moved on. Maybe it's just semantic arguing over the meaning of communication, but is an interior monologue really communicating? I don't think so.

Though on the other hand, there's things like some of my posts here, where I'm arguing with a figment of myself, which probably has to be classed as communication, even though only I'm involved. And asking "is it really conversation, or just the illusion of conversation?" sets up philosophical questions of the "How do we know green's really green and we're not all slaves in the Matrix?" kind, and that's not what I'm going for. Stupid philosophy.

But still, it's not really a conversation, it's just me making noises in my head. It's not really communication. There's only me in there. Now something like this, even if nobody else reads it, that can be communication. Between present me and past me. Assuming I went back to read old entries, which I don't, really. Or present me and future me, so in the future I can look back and go "Wow, I was a schmuck." And since thinking takes time, I guess that could count sorta kinda, but not really. So that leaves me back at my original assertion, that talking to yourself isn't really communication. So what do you folks think?

Comments

[h371x.livejournal.com]

I don't really think that intrapersonal communication works as a definition, mostly because in order to communicate, you have to be passing information of some kind, and you can't pass things to something that already has them.

- h3l!x

[peterchayward.livejournal.com]

That is a good point, but it also raises the questions of insanity, dreams, and multiple personalities. Is a dream communication? You're getting information from yourself, technically, but it strikes me as a grey area.