self-suggestion: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal / Technical
Quick answer
What does “self-suggestion” mean?
The act of influencing one's own thoughts, attitudes, or physical state by repeatedly affirming ideas to oneself, often to bring about a desired change.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The act of influencing one's own thoughts, attitudes, or physical state by repeatedly affirming ideas to oneself, often to bring about a desired change.
A psychological technique or process where an individual deliberately implants specific thoughts, beliefs, or mental images into their own subconscious mind to affect behavior, emotions, or physiological responses.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or usage differences. The concept is referred to identically.
Connotations
In both varieties, it carries connotations of psychology, self-help, and personal development. May sometimes be viewed with slight skepticism outside clinical contexts.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects. 'Affirmation' is a more common everyday term.
Grammar
How to Use “self-suggestion” in a Sentence
[Subject] practices/uses/employs self-suggestion [to achieve X].[Subject] is a product of/result of self-suggestion.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “self-suggestion” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- One can self-suggest a state of calm before a procedure.
- He self-suggested that the pain was diminishing.
American English
- She self-suggested positive outcomes every morning.
- Athletes often self-suggest peak performance states.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial form. Use 'through self-suggestion'.)
American English
- (Not standard; no common adverbial form. Use 'via self-suggestion'.)
adjective
British English
- The self-suggestion technique proved quite beneficial.
- They followed a self-suggestion protocol.
American English
- A powerful self-suggestion exercise changed her mindset.
- He recorded a self-suggestion tape.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in leadership or personal development training contexts, e.g., 'Using self-suggestion to build confidence before a pitch.'
Academic
Used in psychology, psychotherapy, and cognitive science literature to describe a specific therapeutic or experimental technique.
Everyday
Uncommon in casual conversation. If used, it's in the context of self-improvement, meditation, or wellness practices.
Technical
Standard term in hypnotherapy, psychosomatic medicine, and certain branches of psychology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “self-suggestion”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “self-suggestion”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “self-suggestion”
- Misspelling as 'self-sugestion'. Confusing it with 'self-deception' (which implies fallacy, not deliberate practice). Using it as a verb (the verb is 'to suggest to oneself').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a more structured, deliberate subset of positive thinking. Self-suggestion is an active technique of repeating specific phrases, whereas positive thinking is a broader attitude.
Yes, if used to reinforce negative or limiting beliefs (e.g., 'I always fail'), it becomes negative self-suggestion, which can be harmful.
The French pharmacist and psychologist Émile Coué (1857–1926) famously popularised it with his method centred on the phrase 'Every day, in every way, I'm getting better and better.'
Hypnosis typically involves an external operator (a hypnotist) guiding the subject. Self-suggestion (or autosuggestion) is self-administered, though the states of focused attention involved can be similar.
The act of influencing one's own thoughts, attitudes, or physical state by repeatedly affirming ideas to oneself, often to bring about a desired change.
Self-suggestion is usually formal / technical in register.
Self-suggestion: in British English it is pronounced /ˌself səˈdʒestʃən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌself səɡˈdʒestʃən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Talk yourself into/out of something (related concept).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: SELF + SUGGESTION. You are the one giving the SUGGESTION to your SELF.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE MIND IS A COMPUTER (programming the self), THE SELF IS A SPLIT ENTITY (one part suggests to another).
Practice
Quiz
Which term is most directly synonymous with 'self-suggestion'?