What is internalization?
Internalization is the psychological process whereby an external stimulus is transformed into an internal experience. It occurs when an individual accepts, believes, and understands an idea to be true without needing direct evidence for its truthfulness. Internalized ideas can become part of one's identity and can influence behavior, thoughts, feelings, and perceptions.
How does internalization happen?
Internalization happens through various mechanisms such as social learning, modeling, imitation, and conditioning. When individuals observe others performing certain actions or behaviors that lead to desirable outcomes, they may internalize these actions and adopt them as their own.
Social norms and cultural beliefs can also shape internalized attitudes, values, and beliefs.
What are somatic responses?
Somatic responses are bodily reactions to external stimuli. They include changes in heart rate, respiration, muscle tension, sweating, and other physical sensations. These responses are involuntary and can be triggered by emotional states like fear, excitement, anxiety, sadness, happiness, etc.
How do somatic responses accompany rejection in intimate contexts?
When someone experiences rejection in an intimate context, they may experience a range of somatic responses including increased heart rate, palpitations, tightening of chest, dry mouth, dizziness, nausea, shaking, sweating, and hot flashes. These reactions can be accompanied by intense emotions like shame, guilt, embarrassment, fear, anger, frustration, and depression.
What are the different types of rejection?
Rejection can occur in many forms, ranging from mild disapproval to complete abandonment. Some examples of rejection include being ignored, rejected, criticized, humiliated, devalued, neglected, or betrayed. Rejection can stem from personal characteristics such as appearance, gender, race, age, religion, class, abilities, etc., or it can be based on behaviors such as infidelity, jealousy, violence, manipulation, abuse, etc.
How does internalization affect somatic responses to rejection?
Internalized ideas about one's self-worth, attractiveness, desirability, and acceptance play a significant role in how individuals respond to rejection. If an individual has low self-esteem, they may feel that they are not worthy of love and attention and therefore more prone to experiencing intense somatic responses when faced with rejection.
Internalized beliefs about what constitutes 'normal' romantic relationships can lead to exaggerated feelings of failure and rejection if their relationship falls short of these expectations.
What are some strategies for coping with rejection?
Coping mechanisms for dealing with rejection vary depending on the individual and the situation. They can range from avoidance, denial, distraction, self-blame, and self-deprecation to seeking support, understanding, acceptance, and forgiveness. Coping strategies should focus on restoring positive self-esteem, managing emotions, processing the experience, and moving forward. Seeking professional help is recommended if the effects of rejection persist over time.
What are the somatic responses that accompany the internalization of rejection in intimate contexts?
Internalization of rejection may lead to physical symptoms such as increased heart rate, respiratory changes, sweating, nausea, headaches, muscle tension, fatigue, loss of appetite, insomnia, and changes in skin color.