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

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

There are two types of internalization: introjection and identification.

Introjection

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

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

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

• Externalization
• Socialization
• Introjection
• Identification
• Freud's psychoanalytic theory
• Erikson's theory of psychosocial development
• Cognitive behavioral therapy

Internalization Resources
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