I’m not sure that’s accurate. When I read and subvocalize I do have the sensation of “hearing” the voice in my head. Same for thinking. It’s more like remembering what someone said though since there isn’t an actual external source. For example I can read a sentence in Sean Connery’s voice but it’s more like remembering what he sounds like but transferred to the words I’m reading. My own inner voice does have a unique sound to it too, not quite the same as my speaking voice though.
I absolutely have an inner voice. I’m ‘hearing’ it right now as I plan out what i’m saying to you.
Right. I don't believe anyone lacks that capacity. It's very en vogue to have mental problems and it's the perfect one to have because it's 100% unprovable.
Then why do they describe it as an "inner voice"? People have told me they literally feel emotions, and literally see imagery in their heads, so I assumed that they also literally heard their thoughts when they use the same language to describe it. I don't do any of those, so I wouldn't know at all, that's why I asked.
Because that's the closest way to describe it. I'm nearly certain that people who think they don't do this are just being overly pedantic.
I definitely don't visualize. I definitely don't have independent thoughtlines that "chatter" in my head. If we are all doing the same thing, the descriptions of what we're doing should be similar, but they're not.
I'm curious, what happens if you were to close your eyes for a 30 minute+? If you start seeing stuff, patterns, etc..., It's similar to how my mind's eye works.
If there's light, I see the back of my eyelids, if the light is moving I might see patterns like in a cloud or jesus-in-toast kinda thing. I've only ever mentally visualized once while high on opiates (surprisingly hallucinogens don't make me visualize, even when I get visual effects).
It is a phenomenon that has been studied a few times, but I don’t have any references handy. I find it fascinating, and difficult to empathise with since it’s far removed from my personal experience, but most of all I think it’s important to listen when people tell us their subjective experience; that’s all we have.