Causal relations occur both between concepts and within a single concept.

Evidence

It is useful to distinguish causal relationships within concepts from causal relationships between concepts. Causal relationships between concepts are when they function as independent or dependent variables in some theory or causal mechanism. Causation is also an important feature of analysis within concepts. Figure 1.1 is about causal relationships within concepts. — Gary Goertz, Social Science Concepts and Measurement, 64

Categorization

• DEFINE: Distinguishes the within-concept and between-concept senses of causal relationship, a distinction easy to conflate.