Psychological Internalism

Psychological internalism is a theory in ethics and philosophy of mind that suggests moral beliefs and reasons are determined by what’s accessible within a person's own mind—such as their thoughts, feelings, and internal mental states. It holds that a person’s moral judgments depend on their internal psychological makeup rather than external factors or social influences. In simple terms, if someone genuinely holds a moral belief, that belief must be rooted in their internal mental life, making their reasons and motivations accessible to them for moral assessment.