internalization
in-tur-nul-ih-ZAY-shun
/ɪnˌtɜːr.nəl.əˈzeɪ.ʃən/
The psychological process where an individual assimilates external social values, beliefs, or rules into their own personal identity.
Goes beyond mere surface compliance; the individual performs the behavior because they genuinely hold it as an internal conviction.
The story behind the word. Formed from Latin 'internus' (inward). Prominent psychoanalysts like Freud and developmentalists like Vygotsky popularized the concept in the 20th century to explain how outer dialogue becomes inner thought.
Word relationships
- assimilation: Assimilation refers to taking in information or cultural groups into an existing structure, while internalization means turning external rules into inner conscience.
- externalization: Externalization is projecting internal thoughts or feelings outward onto the environment.
Commonly confused with
- compliance: Compliance means conforming outward behavior while keeping inner beliefs unchanged; internalization transforms inner beliefs.
Word family
- internalize (verb): To absorb and accept as part of one's inner character.
- internal (adjective): Located inside.
Collocations
- internalization of norms
- moral internalization
- internalization process
- deep internalization
Example sentences
- "True moral maturation occurs when children move from external obedience to the full internalization of ethical principles." Moral development psychology
Memory hook
INTERNAL-ization takes external rules and makes them INTERNAL guidelines. Transforming outer values into inner voice.
When not to use
Do not use for external compliance where a person obeys rules only out of fear of punishment.
Fun facts
- Lev Vygotsky argued that human thought itself is the result of internalizing spoken social interactions from childhood.
Related words
Explore more words
internalize, authenticity, assimilation, assimilate, Conformity, mastery
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