internalisere

Internalisere is a term used in psychology, sociology, education, and related fields to denote the process of incorporating external norms, values, rules, or knowledge into one’s own belief system and self-regulation. When norms become internalized, attitudes and behaviors are guided by an internal standard rather than by external pressure alone. In Danish and Norwegian, the verb internalisere is commonly used to describe this same process.

In social and developmental theory, internalization is a core mechanism of socialization. Through it, individuals move from obedience to external demands toward autonomous adherence to personally held norms. Theories differ on how this occurs: cognitive and learning theories emphasize restructuring information within existing mental schemas; sociocultural and interactionist perspectives stress the role of social interaction, feedback, and identification with role models or groups. Psychoanalytic approaches describe introjection or identification as methods by which people take in attributes or standards from others and incorporate them into their ego or self-concept.

Applications of internalization appear across domains. In education, students internalize standards such as academic integrity and self-regulated study habits. In the workplace, safety protocols and professional ethics may become internalized, reducing the need for constant external enforcement. In language learning, grammar rules and usage become automatic through practice and social feedback. In ethics and culture, internalized values guide decision making even when external incentives are absent.

Internalization is distinct from compliance (performing a behavior to satisfy an external demand) and conformity (adjusting behavior to fit a group). It reflects a shift toward self-determined motivation, though critical perspectives warn that internalization can perpetuate oppressive norms if they are adopted uncritically, highlighting the role of agency and possible resistance.