Which term refers to self-directed comments not directed to others but intended to guide one's own behavior?

• A. Private speech
• B. Inner speech
• C. Guided participation
• D. Zone of proximal development

Answer: (A)

Self-directed comments that guide your own behavior are described as private speech. In Vygotsky’s framework, private speech is the verbal self-talk people use to plan, regulate, and monitor their actions while solving problems or learning new tasks. It isn’t directed at another person; it’s directed at the self to influence behavior. With practice, this spoken self-talk often becomes internalized, turning into inner speech, which remains a self-guiding thought but is silent. This distinction helps explain why some tasks feel like a running conversation with oneself.

The other ideas center on social learning. Guided participation involves learning through guided engagement with more knowledgeable others, while the zone of proximal development describes the range of tasks a learner can perform with help but cannot yet do alone. Those concepts emphasize interaction and support from others, not purely self-directed commentary.