1. to express or display (an internal feeling, thought, or condition) outwardly; to make external or visible
Usage: present participle of externalize; common in psychology and behavioral contexts
2. to attribute (one's own thoughts, feelings, or problems) to external causes or other people rather than to oneself
Usage: psychology and behavioral health term; often contrasted with internalizing

Examples

• The child was externalizing her anxiety through aggressive behavior at school.
• He struggled with externalizing his emotions instead of keeping them bottled up.
• Externalizing problems onto others prevented him from taking responsibility.
• The therapist helped her stop externalizing blame and focus on her own actions.
• Some adolescents respond to stress by externalizing their distress through acting out.
• The study examined how children with ADHD were externalizing their frustration.