Based on available research, babies are generally not considered to have a fully developed 'voice in their head' or inner monologue in the same way older children and adults do.
The term "inner voice," also known as internal speech or internal dialogue, refers to the cognitive process where individuals can "talk" to themselves mentally without speaking aloud. This is often used for thinking, planning, self-reflection, and processing thoughts and emotions.
Research on Inner Voice Development
Developing the capacity for an inner voice is a complex cognitive skill that emerges over time. Research indicates that this ability is not present from birth but rather develops gradually during childhood.
According to studies, children as young as 5-7 years old are able to utilize an inner voice to process their thoughts and emotions. This suggests that the more sophisticated use of internal dialogue begins later in early childhood.
Furthermore, other studies indicate that children as young as 18-21 months may also be able to use internal dialogue to better understand language and phonetics. This suggests an earlier stage where children might use internal sounds or words to help process external speech, potentially laying the groundwork for a later inner voice.
Here's a summary based on the provided research timeframe:
| Age Group | Evidence of Inner Voice / Internal Dialogue |
|---|---|
| Babies (under 18m) | No evidence suggested in the reference |
| 18-21 Months | May be able to use for language processing |
| 5-7 Years | Able to utilize for processing thoughts/emotions |
Since babies are typically defined as children under 12 months old, and the research points to the use of internal dialogue possibly beginning around 18-21 months for language processing and becoming more established for complex thought processing around 5-7 years old, it suggests that babies do not possess an inner voice or internal dialogue capability.
