externalizing

An externalizing behavior or action is when someone acts out their problems instead of dealing with them directly. This can be seen in children who are angry but hit others rather than talking about what's bothering them.

Externalizing behaviors often get labeled as "bad" or "naughty," but it's worth considering why kids (or adults) might act this way. Sometimes, people externalize their problems because they don't know how to express themselves, just like a child who is angry but doesn't have the words to say so. They might become aggressive or destructive instead of facing what's really going on inside them. This can also happen when someone feels overwhelmed by emotions and needs help learning better ways to cope.