Internalization
Internalization is a psychological process where individuals integrate attitudes, values, standards and the opinions of others into their own identity or self-concept. It is the opposite of externalization.
Overview[edit | edit source]
Internalization is a concept in psychology that refers to the unconscious adoption of the ideas or attitudes of others. This process is considered a self-regulatory process where individuals take in the societal standards about an attitude or behavior as a guide to their self-concept.
Internalization is a key component of socialization and involves a change in behavior that becomes automatic and habitual, as the individual no longer needs to think about the behavior. This process is critical in learning societal norms and expectations, and in developing one's identity.
Types of Internalization[edit | edit source]
There are two types of internalization: introjection and identification.
Introjection[edit | edit source]
Introjection is a type of internalization where an individual incorporates the characteristics, qualities, or behaviors of another person or object into their own self-concept. This is often seen in children who introject aspects of their parents' personalities or behaviors.
Identification[edit | edit source]
Identification is a type of internalization where an individual adopts an aspect, property, or attribute of another individual and is transformed, wholly or partially, by the model that other provides. It is by means of a series of identifications that the personality is constituted and specified.
Role in Psychology[edit | edit source]
In psychology, internalization is an important concept in theories of personality development, including Freud's psychoanalytic theory and Erikson's theory of psychosocial development. It is also a key concept in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), where it refers to the process of integrating new information into existing cognitive structures.
See Also[edit | edit source]
- Externalization
- Socialization
- Introjection
- Identification
- Freud's psychoanalytic theory
- Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
| Internalization Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
Medical Disclaimer: WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. The information on WikiMD is provided as an information resource only, may be incorrect, outdated or misleading, and is not to be used or relied on for any diagnostic or treatment purposes. Please consult your health care provider before making any healthcare decisions or for guidance about a specific medical condition. WikiMD expressly disclaims responsibility, and shall have no liability, for any damages, loss, injury, or liability whatsoever suffered as a result of your reliance on the information contained in this site. By visiting this site you agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, which may from time to time be changed or supplemented by WikiMD. If you do not agree to the foregoing terms and conditions, you should not enter or use this site. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
