You may have caught yourself saying something like, “Come on, Daniel, you can do this,” or “You need to calm down.” At first, talking to yourself using your own name or words such as “you” can sound unusual. But psychology suggests that this form of third-person or non-first-person self-talk may serve an important cognitive function. Rather than simply being a quirky habit, it can create psychological distance, allowing people to think about their own problems somewhat like they would think about another person's problems.
Researchers including psychologist Ethan Kross have studied this phenomenon extensively. Their findings suggest that changing the language people use when talking to themselves can influence emotional regulation, stress appraisal and self-control.
