externalized

Externalized is the past participle and adjectival form of externalize. It describes something that has been made external, expressed outwardly, or assigned to an external system or actor. In general usage, issues or processes may be described as externalized when the burden, effect, or content is external to the original source.

In psychology and mental health, externalization refers to a cognitive or affective process in which internal experiences, such as thoughts, feelings, or impulses, are projected outward toward people, objects, or events. It is discussed as a defense mechanism and, in clinical contexts, as a way to understand symptoms that appear to originate outside the person.

In knowledge management and organizational theory, externalization is the process of turning tacit knowledge—know-how that is hard to articulate—into explicit knowledge that can be communicated, documented, and shared. This concept is central to the SECI model of knowledge creation, which pairs externalization with internalization, socialization, and combination.

In economics and policy, externalization describes costs or benefits borne by third parties rather than the producer or decision-maker, such as environmental pollution or public health impacts. Policies often seek to internalize externalities by adjusting prices, regulations, or incentives.

In computing and information systems, externalization denotes moving data, configurations, or services outside a system boundary—for example, externalized configuration files, external APIs, or services hosted externally. This usage highlights the shift of responsibility or access from an internal component to an external one.