Although some might take the position that no communication is needed if only one party is involved, we communicate with ourselves all the time.
Intrapersonal communication can encompass:
- Sense-making (see Karl Weick) e.g. interpreting maps, texts, signs, and symbols
- Interpreting non-verbal communication (see Albert Mehrabian) e.g. gestures, eye contact
- Communication between body parts; e.g. "My stomach is telling me it's time for lunch."
- Speaking aloud ("talking to oneself"), reading aloud, repeating what one hears; the additional activities of speaking and hearing (in the third case of hearing again) what one thinks, reads or hears may increase concentration and retention.
- Writing (by hand, or with a wordprocessor, etc.) one's thoughts or observations: the additional activities, on top of thinking, of writing and reading back may again increase self-understanding ("How do I know what I mean until I see what I say?")and concentration. It aids ordering one's thoughts; in addition it produces a record that can be used later again. Copying text to aid memorizing also falls in this category.
- Making gestures while thinking: the additional activity, on top of thinking, of body motions, may again increase concentration, assist in problem solving, and assist memory.
- Day-dreaming
- Nocturnal dreaming
