Externalized: meaning, definitions and examples

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externalized

 

[ ɪkˈstɜrnəlaɪzd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

psychology term

To externalize means to express or manifest an internal thought, feeling, or idea outwardly. This often pertains to psychological processes where an individual projects their emotions or thoughts to the outside world instead of keeping them internalized.

Synonyms

articulate, express, manifest, project

Examples of usage

  • He externalized his anxiety through art.
  • The patient externalized his feelings during the therapy session.
  • She externalized her frustrations in her writing.
  • They tend to externalize their problems rather than confronting them.

Translations

Translations of the word "externalized" in other languages:

🇵🇹 externalizado

🇮🇳 बाह्यीकृत

🇩🇪 externalisiert

🇮🇩 dieksperankan

🇺🇦 екстерналізований

🇵🇱 eksternalizowany

🇯🇵 外部化された

🇫🇷 externalisé

🇪🇸 externalizado

🇹🇷 dışsallaştırılmış

🇰🇷 외부화된

🇸🇦 مُعَادُ خارجي

🇨🇿 externalizovaný

🇸🇰 externalizovaný

🇨🇳 外部化的

🇸🇮 externaliziran

🇮🇸 ytri

🇰🇿 сыртқы

🇬🇪 ბაჰი

🇦🇿 xarici

🇲🇽 externalizado

Word origin

The term 'externalize' is derived from the prefix 'external', which comes from the Latin 'externus' meaning 'outer' or 'outside', combined with the suffix '-ize' that indicates a process of transformation or action. The actual use of the term in psychological contexts began to gain traction in the mid-20th century as psychology evolved to include more expressive therapies. Originally tied to discussions surrounding behaviorism and the ideas of projecting internal states outwardly, the term became popular as therapists noted the importance of helping patients articulate feelings through various modalities, such as art, verbal expression, and more. This evolution in psychology also paved the way for discussions around how people cope with and express their internal states, contrasting the ideas of internalization akin to repression. Today, 'externalize' is widely applied beyond psychology, in fields such as linguistics, sociology, and philosophy, reflecting its versatile and significant role in understanding human behavior and expression.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #32,161 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.