http://www.unlimitedchoice.org/blog/personal-growth/internalizing-vs-externalizing/
"Children with behavioral problems are more than likely to face negative future outcomes" (Williams, 2013).
Internalizing vs. Externalizing Behaviors
In order to understand an emotional disturbance, we must be able to distinguish between the student's internalizing and externalizing behaviors. When students with an emotional disturbance are experiencing stress, they will typically experience these types of behaviors. These students are typically divided into these two subcategories. Let's take a look at what a student looks like when they exhibit internalizing behaviors vs. externalizing behaviors. Students with ED can also show both types of behaviors.
Externalizing Behaviors include (Williams, 2013):
Externalizing behaviors are easily observable by others. The most frequent problems occur when students with ED exhibit externalizing behaviors (Kaufmann, 2009). A student exhibiting these types of behaviors may lash out at others using aggression, violence, defiant, and criminal behaviors (Liu, 2004). |
Internalizing Behaviors include (Williams, 2013):
Internalizing behaviors are not always as easy to observe. These negative behaviors are directed towards the "self". A student exhibiting these types of behaviors may hurt him or herself and not lash out on others. These students are more likely to be rejected by same-age peers and adults. |