idealization

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (3)

  1. a portrayal of something as ideal“the idealization of rural life was very misleading”Synonyms: idealisationglorification
  2. (psychiatry) a defense mechanism that splits something you are ambivalent about into two representations--one good and one badSynonyms: idealisation
  3. something that exists only as an ideaSynonyms: idealisation
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Idealization \I*de`al*i*za"tion\, n.

1.The act or process of idealizing. [1913 Webster]

2.(Fine Arts) The representation of natural objects, scenes, etc., in such a way as to show their most important characteristics; the study of the ideal. [1913 Webster]

3.A defense mechanism that splits something one is ambivalent about into two representations -- one good and one bad. [WordNet sense 1] [WordNet 1.5]

4.something that exists only as an idea. [WordNet sense 2] [WordNet 1.5]

5.a protrayal of something as ideal. [WordNet sense 3]

Syn: glorification. [WordNet 1.5]

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