Medical Dictionary

externalize

vt ex·ter·nal·ize
ex·ter·nal·ized or British ex·ter·nal·isedex·ter·nal·iz·ing or British ex·ter·nal·is·ing

Medical Definition of EXTERNALIZE

1
a :  to transform from a mental image into an apparently real object (as in hallucinations) :  attribute (a mental image) to external causation <externalizing an obsession> b :  to invent an explanation for (an inner problem whose actual basis is known only subconsciously) by attributing to causes outside the self :  rationalize, project <externalized his failure>
2
:  to direct outward socially <externalized her anger>
ex·ter·nal·iza·tion or British ex·ter·nal·isa·tion \-ˌstərn-əl-ə-ˈzā-shən\ noun

Variants of EXTERNALIZE

ex·ter·nal·ize or British ex·ter·nal·ise \ek-ˈstərn-əl-ˌīz\

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