The process of taking external experiences, values, or criticisms and making them part of one's internal psychological world. This can involve adopting others' beliefs as your own or turning external blame into self-criticism.
From Latin 'internus' meaning inward or internal, the term evolved in psychology during the early 20th century. It describes how external social and family messages become internalized as part of one's self-concept and inner dialogue.
Internalization is how your parents' voices become your inner voice - sometimes supportive, sometimes critical. Children are like emotional sponges, absorbing not just what people say but how they say it, which is why a parent's tone of disappointment can echo in someone's head for decades.
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