omaksumalla

Omaksumalla is a Finnish term used in educational psychology and sociology to describe the process by which individuals adopt norms, knowledge, or practices through internalization and participation. The form omaksumalla is an instrumental gerund derived from the verb omaksua, meaning to internalize or assimilate, and is used to indicate the manner of a learning or socialization process.

In practice, omaksumalla emphasizes tacit knowledge and situated learning—how learners gradually internalize expectations, routines, and values by observing, imitating, and reflecting within a community, rather than through direct instruction alone. It highlights the role of social context, ongoing participation, and identity formation in the development of competence and professional or cultural belonging.

Contexts where the concept is discussed include classrooms, workplaces, and cultural communities. It is often connected to social learning theories and related ideas such as internalization, socialization, and acculturation. Omaksumalla is frequently presented as a complement to explicit teaching methods, drawing attention to how meaning and practice are co-constructed through lived experience and interaction.

Critiques of the concept note that overemphasizing internalization can obscure structural barriers, power dynamics, or unequal access to participation. Proponents, however, argue that omaksumalla supports durable learning and ethical alignment by tying knowledge to personal meaning and communal values, thereby fostering long-term adherence and adaptability.

See also internalization, socialization, acculturation, situated learning. The term remains primarily used within Finnish educational and sociological discourse, where it serves to describe a mode of learning and adaptation that grows out of active involvement in social practices.