internal resistance
C1Formal, Academic, Technical
Definition
Meaning
The force within a person, group, or system that opposes change or external influence.
Can refer to: 1. Psychology: An unwillingness or subconscious opposition to change (e.g., in therapy or personal development). 2. Physics: The opposition to current flow within a battery or power source (also called 'source resistance'). 3. Politics: Secret opposition within a country or organisation to a ruling regime. 4. Mechanics: Internal friction or drag within a system.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The meaning is highly context-dependent; the domain (psychology, physics, politics) must be inferred from surrounding text. In most non-technical contexts, the psychological or organisational meaning is assumed.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. In physics contexts, 'internal resistance' is standard in both. In psychology/business, US English may slightly favour 'pushback' or 'resistance to change' as more everyday synonyms.
Connotations
Slightly more formal/conceptual in UK English; in US business contexts, it can be a direct, operational term.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in academic/technical writing. Slightly more common in US organisational psychology literature.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
internal resistance to [noun/gerund]internal resistance within [organisation/group]internal resistance against [policy/change]internal resistance from [source]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To hit a wall of internal resistance.”
- “To be one's own worst enemy (related psychological concept).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Management encountered significant internal resistance to the new remote work policy.
Academic
The study measured internal resistance to cognitive dissonance in the subject group.
Everyday
She felt a real internal resistance to getting out of bed on Monday morning.
Technical
The battery's performance was limited by its high internal resistance.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The team internally resisted the merger plans.
- She internally resisted the impulse to interrupt.
American English
- The staff internally resisted the software update.
- He internally resisted changing his routine.
adverb
British English
- The proposal was internally resisted.
- He argued internally resistantly against the idea.
American English
- The change was met internally resistantly.
- She reacted internally, resistantly.
adjective
British English
- The internal resistance forces were difficult to quantify.
- An internal resistance movement formed within the party.
American English
- The internal resistance dynamics slowed the project.
- They faced internal resistance issues from the start.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I feel internal resistance when I try to wake up early.
- The old battery has internal resistance.
- There was some internal resistance to the new school rules.
- The phone does not charge well because of internal resistance in the battery.
- The manager failed to overcome the internal resistance to the restructuring plan.
- A high internal resistance causes a voltage drop in the electrical circuit.
- Psychoanalytic theory posits that internal resistance acts as a defence mechanism against unconscious material.
- The efficacy of the reform was undermined by pervasive internal resistance from mid-level bureaucrats.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a rusty hinge (INTERNAL) that RESISTS being opened.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS MOTION; INTERNAL RESISTANCE IS FRICTION/AN ANCHOR.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct translation as 'внутреннее сопротивление' for physics; use 'внутреннее сопротивление источника тока'. In psychology, 'внутреннее сопротивление' is acceptable but 'сопротивление изменениям' is more common. Do not confuse with 'internal conflict' ('внутренний конфликт').
Common Mistakes
- Using 'internal resistance' to mean simple disagreement (weaker; use 'disagreement'). Confusing with 'internal conflict' (which is about competing desires, not just opposition). Misspelling as 'intern resistance' (which would mean resistance from interns).
Practice
Quiz
In which context does 'internal resistance' specifically refer to a measurable electrical property?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not necessarily. In psychology, it can be a protective mechanism. In organisations, it can signal legitimate concerns about poorly planned changes.
'Resistance' is broader and can be external. 'Internal resistance' specifies the origin is within the person, group, or system itself.
In physics, yes, in ohms (Ω). In psychology/organisational studies, it is assessed through surveys, interviews, and behavioural observation, but not with a universal physical unit.
It is more common in specialised or formal contexts (business, academia, engineering). In casual conversation, people might say 'I don't feel like it' or 'there was pushback' instead.