Definition

Noun: 1. The quality or state of being internal; inwardness: The condition of existing, operating, or originating within something, such as an organization, a system, or a person's mind. 2. Preoccupation with inner concerns: A focus on or orientation toward internal, subjective, or personal matters, especially ethical, spiritual, or ideological values.

Usage and Examples

• The internality of the conflict made it difficult for external mediators to understand the full situation.
• Her poetry is characterized by a profound internality, exploring the depths of personal consciousness.
• The study examined the internality of the decision-making process within the corporate board.

Advanced Usage and Nuances

• In psychology, internality can refer to an , where individuals believe they control their own life outcomes.
  • A sense of internality is often linked to greater personal motivation and responsibility.
• In philosophy, it relates to concepts of introspection and the nature of subjective experience.
  • The philosopher argued for the primacy of internality in understanding human consciousness.

Variants and Related Words

• Internal (adj): Of or situated on the inside; inner.
  • Internal organs; internal affairs.
• Internally (adv): In an internal manner; on the inside.
  • The company is restructuring internally.
• Internalize (v): To make (attitudes, behavior, etc.) part of one's nature by learning or unconscious assimilation.
  • Children internalize social norms.
• Inwardness (n): The quality of being inward or private; preoccupation with one's inner self. (Often used as a close synonym in the philosophical/psychological sense).

Synonyms

• Inwardness
• Subjectivity
• Immanence (in a philosophical/religious context)
• Interiority

Antonyms

• Externality
• Outwardness
• Objectivity

Related Phrases and Concepts

• Locus of control: A psychological concept where describes the belief that one's own actions determine outcomes.
• Internal monologue: The inner voice of a person's thoughts, representing a form of cognitive internality.
• Internal conflict: A struggle within a character's mind, showcasing psychological internality.

Noun

1. preoccupation with what concerns human inner nature (especially ethical or ideological values)
   • Socrates' inwardness, integrity, and inquisitiveness- H.R.Finch