Which concept refers to individuals accepting norms of behaviour as their own because they believe it serves their best interests to do so?

• A. Internalisation
• B. Socialisation
• C. Coercion
• D. Economic rationality

Answer: (A)

Internalisation is when norms and values become part of how someone thinks and behaves because they believe they are right and worth following. When a norm serves a person’s own interests, they adopt it as their own standard, so following it feels natural and voluntary rather than just complying with external rules. This differs from socialisation, which is the process of learning those norms; coercion, which relies on fear or punishment to force compliance; and economic rationality, which focuses on calculating costs and benefits rather than truly internalizing beliefs. So, the idea of accepting norms because they serve one’s best interests aligns with internalisation.