What does internalizing mean?
Internalizing means taking something into oneself and making it part of your own understanding, beliefs, values, habits, or emotional life. A person might internalize a lesson, a social norm, a message, or an attitude. The word is especially common in education and psychology, where it can describe how individuals accept ideas or how they turn emotions and difficulties inward instead of expressing them outwardly. Its use often suggests more than briefly hearing or understanding something: internalizing involves incorporating the idea into one's thinking or behavior. In everyday speech, 'taking in,' 'absorbing,' or 'embracing' may sound more informal and accessible. The term is also useful for describing psychological processes, including the internalizing of stress, anxiety, anger, or other difficult feelings. Although the spelling internalizing is standard in American English, British English generally uses internalising.
verbTo take something into oneself and make it part of one's thoughts, beliefs, values, or understanding. In psychology, the term can also refer to directing emotions or difficulties inward rather than expressing them outwardly.
- Taking something into oneself and incorporating it into one's beliefs, values, thoughts, or understanding.
- Turning emotions, stress, or difficulties inward rather than expressing or acting on them outwardly.
"The workshop helped employees internalize the company's values and make them part of everyday decisions."
"Children gradually internalize the norms and expectations of the adults around them."
"The therapist worked with him to understand how he was internalizing his frustration instead of expressing it."
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does internalizing come from?
The English verb internalize was formed by combining internal with the suffix -ize, ultimately related to Greek -izein, meaning 'to make like' or 'to cause to become.' Internal comes from Latin internus, meaning 'inner' or 'internal.' Related English words such as interior, intimate, and intern developed from the same Latin family and convey ideas connected with inwardness.
Related word forms
How internalizing is actually used
The word is most common in academic, educational, and psychological contexts. It can sound more formal than simply 'taking in' or 'absorbing.'
Easily confused with internalizing
Internalizing means taking thoughts, feelings, or problems inward, whereas externalizing means expressing or directing them outward.