My recent work as an artist is centred around a search for what Heidegger calls an “experience with language”—moments in which our awareness of language spikes and our relationship with it changes. Where I found the most potential is on the sound/sense continuum of the human voice, and it is an oscillation between the extremes of this continuum that defines my recent works. This paper examines these works and their underpinning ideas, but focuses on the culminating project of my thesis: Solo for Self-Talk Chamber. For this project, I spoke aloud to myself for fourteen hours, one hour at a time, in a purpose-built room. The process was documented and exhibited as a book work, a video and a performance, all of which are discussed in detail.

My recent work as an artist is centred around a search for what Heidegger calls an “experience with language”—moments in which our awareness of language spikes and our relationship with it changes. Where I found the most potential is on the sound/sense continuum of the human voice, and it is an oscillation between the extremes of this continuum that defines my recent works. This paper examines these works and their underpinning ideas, but focuses on the culminating project of my thesis: Solo for Self-Talk Chamber. For this project, I spoke aloud to myself for fourteen hours, one hour at a time, in a purpose-built room. The process was documented and exhibited as a book work, a video and a performance, all of which are discussed in detail.

This study examines self-talk within a communication framework and context. The effects of different types of self-talk on emotion are explored. Specifically, this research looks at different types of self-talk based on the language and message aspects of the self-talk including: valence of self-talk (negative vs. positive), and self-talk content (using name vs. second-person pronoun [you] for self-reference). The relative effects of these different types of self-talk on emotion are investigated within the context of interpersonal anger. For control, the study contrasts the effects of self-talk with the effects of thought. Additionally, this study looks at the effects of the different types of self-talk and thought on subsequent interpersonal communication outcomes (perceived satisfaction and effectiveness of written interpersonal communication as well as willingness to communicate interpersonally). Results indicated that valence of self-talk and thought has significant impact on emotional outcomes. Results also indicated an interaction effect between valence and the self-talk/thought manipulation on negative affect. Positive self-talk decreased negative affect more than positive thought. Further results demonstrated a mediated effect of self-talk on subsequent interpersonal communication outcomes. Positive self-talk led to less anger after interpersonal communication which led to greater perceptions of interpersonal communication effectiveness and satisfaction and increased willingness to communicate interpersonally.

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This case study investigates the co-construction communication patterns that emerged during an Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) intervention designed to reduce negative and critical self-talk. The transcripts of eight sequential acupressure and behavioral (SAB) counseling intervention sessions between a therapist and two medically nonadherent HIV-infected women were analyzed using Giorgi's (1989, 1994, 1997, 2006) phenomeonlogical method of inquiry. The analysis revealed three major themes: "assessing the present," "reviewing the past," and "forging the future," and eight subthemes: "safe atmosphere," "disclosure," "negotiating meaning," "releasing the past," "breaking the past-to-present pattern," "reducing uncertainty," "generating options," and "projecting images." Prior to the intervention sessions, the women reported experiencing negative and critical self-talk and inconsistent medication adherence. Self-talk and illness narrative modifications were evident within and across sessions as the therapist used sequential acupressure and behavioral counseling techniques. During the one month follow-up, the participants reported no experience of negative and critical self-talk and described actions taken toward goals discussed and imagined during the intervention such as medication adherence, exercise, and reenrollment in school. The co-construction themes that emerged in the intervention were consistent with findings in the comforting message literature with specific parallels to the factor analysis findings of Bippus (2001). This work lends support to comforting message research and suggests that distinctions between everyday comforting messages and chronic illness support strategies may be more similar than anticipated. Other study conclusions include clinical and practical implications for people working with HIV-infected individuals.

No description available.