Individualisere

Individualisere is a verb meaning to tailor or adapt something to the individual characteristics, needs, or preferences of a person, rather than to a general group. The term is used in several Scandinavian languages, notably Danish and Norwegian Bokmål, and appears in broader Germanic and European usage with a similar sense of personalization or customization.

Etymology and form: The word builds on the Latin root individuum, meaning indivisible or distinct, combined with a suffix that forms verbs indicating making or rendering a state. The result is a process-oriented term for converting a generic approach into an individualized one. In practice, related concepts in related languages include personalization, customization, and tailored approaches.

Applications and contexts: Individualisering appears in education as a principle of adjusting instruction to accommodate different learning paces and styles. In health care and social services, it refers to creating care plans and interventions that reflect a patient’s or client’s unique circumstances. In marketing and product design, it denotes customizing recommendations, communications, or features to fit an individual user. In public policy and organizational development, it can describe efforts to design programs that respond to diverse needs rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

Considerations: The emphasis on individualization raises questions about data privacy, equity, and feasibility. While it can improve relevance and outcomes, excessive or poorly managed personalization may lead to fragmentation or bias if not guided by transparent criteria and safeguards.

See also: personalization, customization, tailoring, user-centered design.