idealization

[i-de″al-ĭ-za´shun]

a conscious or unconscious mental mechanism in which the individual overestimates an admired aspect or attribute of another person.

Patient discussion about idealization

Q. When should I stop? As part of my efforts to lose weight, I worked a lot about accepting myself – that less-than-perfect body is also an acceptable option. And now, after losing weight but not reaching my ideal weight, I have these doubts- Should I continue my efforts to lose weight, although I feel good about my self? What do you think?

A. I truly believe that if you are happy with your weight loss, even though you say you have not reached your ideal weight or goal, be proud of who you are and what you have acomplished. There is no such thing as the perfect body image, at least not as far as i'm concerned. I feel that you have to love yourself for what's on the inside because the outside always changes (i.e. age, loss of hair, teeth, etc...) I had gastric bypass in 2005 and lost 90 lbs. I still have not reached my goal of 125-127 lbs. where I used to be 10 years ago, but I love "who" I am today. I am 140 lbs. of fantastic and some days I look at me and feel different but feel blessed that I am healthy and alive...Hope this helps

More discussions about idealization

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References in periodicals archive

According to Nowak, there is an essential difference between abstraction and idealization:

The concept of idealization in Ernst Cassirer's theory of knowledge

In the light of that, if we assume that the fundamental procedure of science is Idealization, then it's easy to notice that the growth of knowledge "consists in acquiring increasingly new information about the essential factors of the investigated magnitudes;" (26) but, as Leszek Nowak demonstrated in his works, this is not enough because if we introduce idealizing assumptions by omitting secondary factors, after that we must remove these assumptions in favour of more realistic ones, because:

Scientific progress: the principle of dialectical correspondence

MacFaul argues that the dynamic nature of drama militates against static idealizations of friendship in the plays of Shakespeare and his contemporaries.

Male Friendship in Shakespeare and his Contemporaries

Idealization that becomes stronger as the relationship develops leads to partners' deeper feelings of love and passion for one another.

Organization of partner knowledge, its effect on passion, and the mediating effect of idealization

In this collection of 11 articles, contributors describe their thought and research about idealization and abstraction in science.

Idealization 12; correcting the model; idealization and abstraction in the sciences

In the brave new United States, Classical models were favoured, demonstrating the notion of democracy for free males (with no interference from women, slaves or the poorest--a society in some ways consciously derived from an idealization of the Roman Republic).

Democratic representation: since the beginning of the state, all governments have built to demonstrate their power. How can modern democracies find expression when many perceive that terrorism is a major threat?

THE MOMMY MYTH: THE IDEALIZATION OF MOTHERHOOD AND HOW IT HAS UNDERMINED WOMEN Susan J.

The Mommy Myth: The Idealization of Motherhood and How it has Undermined Women

Separate gallery spaces in the exhibition explore different themes or philosophies related to the Pre-Raphaelite artists, including the idealization of feminine beauty, biblical themes and the literary implications of the movement.

Pre-Raphaelite art visits the Frist Center for the Visual Arts

The idealization of the era is thick, and it is here that the authors risk losing younger readers more inclined to identify with the barbed rants of Kate Reddy, working mom heroine of I Don't Know How She Does It, than Jane Alpert, underground seventies radical and author of "Mother Right." Yet the storytelling is rich, and readers are treated to a detailed recount of exhilarating moments: WITCH's Mother's Day Protest in 1969, the eleven-hour sit-in on March 18, 1970, at the offices of Ladies' Home Journal, the founding of Ms., the publication of Adrienne Rich's Of Woman Born.

Stereotypes and archetypes

Thus, straight realism, the borrowing from folklore, idealization, satire, and humor distinguish his style.

Milovan Glisic (1847-1908)