Word
internalized
Phoneticsin·ter·nal·ized
/ˌɪnˈtɝnəˌɫaɪzd/
Definitions
01to adopt a belief or habit
v. to learn a rule or idea so well that you follow it without thinking.
v. to incorporate external values, norms, or knowledge into one's own character or subconscious through learning or socialisation.
“After living in the city for a year, she had internalized the local customs and no longer felt like a tourist.”
“The students had so thoroughly internalized the laboratory safety protocols that they reached for their goggles instinctively before the experiment even began.”
Academic
Usage
This is a transitive verb that requires a direct object, such as a value, rule, or belief.
Teaching tip
In educational contexts, this often refers to moving from conscious learning to automatic mastery.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02held against oneself
adj. describing negative ideas about your own group that you have started to believe are true.
adj. describing prejudices or discriminatory views that a person has adopted against their own social group as a result of societal pressure.
“He struggled with internalized shame about his accent until he met other successful people from his hometown.”
“The study examined how internalized stereotypes can negatively impact the academic performance and self-esteem of minority students.”
Academic · Formal
Usage
Usually appears before a noun, often paired with words like 'prejudice', 'racism', or 'homophobia'.
Teaching tip
This is a common term in sociology and psychology; it describes a specific type of psychological burden rather than just a personal opinion.
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“My own silence was shaped by shame and internalized beliefs.” “If they haven’t internalized an instinct for what Kanter calls “moving through the art and absorbing it,” the museum experience is central to how they learn about and understand art.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/internalized