The characteristics of an emotionally internalized person can be clearly seen. With the externalized person, it is as if there is a zipper tag on the outside of them for others to control, whereas the internalizer’s tag is on the inside. As we walk through the characteristics over the next few weeks, you will get a clear idea who these people are and how to recognize them. You may even be surprised to see that those in your life may be more internalized emotionally than you once thought.
Characteristic #1-Responsible for Their Emotions
Emotional internalizers accept full responsibility for what they are feeling. The emotions they have are their emotions, unlike those of Clark and Kim who externalized their fears. For example, an internalized spouse would say, “I have some fear and take responsibility for that emotion.” In their relationships, others are not responsible for how they feel. They do not blame others or feel as if they are victims of others, generally speaking. This shift of personal responsibility of emotions is a major indicator of an internalized emotional person. They are not people who look to others or the environment for why they feel the way they do.