Interior monologue is often used in literature, psychology and even in everyday language to describe a person's internal thought process. However, there are many other words that could be used to describe the same idea. For example, stream of consciousness, cognitive dialogue, introspection, soliloquy, or inner voice are all synonyms that can be used instead of interior monologue. Each of these terms emphasize and describe the process in which a person's thoughts flow and how they are articulated internally. Writers often use variations of these phrases to create a sense of psychological depth or to express the inner workings of a character's mind.