Idealization: meaning, definitions and examples

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idealization

[aɪˌdiːəlaɪˈzeɪʃən ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

in psychology

The process of representing someone or something as perfect or better than in reality, often leading to unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

Synonyms

glorification, idealizing, romanticizing.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
idealization	Used when presenting something as perfect or better than reality. Her idealization of the past made her nostalgic for times that never truly existed
idealizing	The act of seeing someone or something as perfect or without flaws, often used in personal relationships. He was idealizing his new girlfriend, not yet seeing any of her imperfections
glorification	Used to overly praise or honor someone or something, often ignoring faults and negative aspects. The glorification of war in movies can lead to a distorted view of its true horrors
romanticizing	Used to describe making something seem more appealing or exciting than it actually is, often with a nostalgic or dreamy quality. She was romanticizing life in the countryside, ignoring the hard work it actually involves

Examples of usage

She had an idealization of her partner, which made it difficult for her to see his flaws.
His idealization of success led to constant dissatisfaction with his achievements.
The media's idealization of beauty can have negative effects on self-esteem.

^{Context #2 | Noun}

in art

The practice of representing objects in an ideal form, emphasizing beauty and perfection rather than realism.

Synonyms

aestheticism, idealizing, perfectionism.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
idealization	Used when discussing the action or process of seeing something or someone as perfect or more desirable than they really are. His idealization of his childhood made it difficult for him to see its flaws.
idealizing	Refers to the act of perceiving someone or something as better than they really are, often leading to unrealistic expectations. She was always idealizing her romantic partners, which led to constant disappointments.
perfectionism	Describes a personality trait where a person strives for flawlessness and sets high performance standards, often leading to stress and dissatisfaction. His perfectionism meant he spent hours on projects, ensuring every detail was perfect.
aestheticism	Used in contexts related to the appreciation of beauty and art, often implying a focus on the visual or sensory qualities of objects, sometimes at the expense of practical concerns. The movement of aestheticism in the 19th century emphasized art for art's sake.

Examples of usage

The artist's idealization of nature was evident in his paintings.
The sculpture showed the idealization of the human body.
Classic Greek art often involves idealization of the human form.

^{Context #3 | Noun}

in physics

A simplification or approximation of a real-world system or process used to make calculations or models more manageable.

Synonyms

abstraction, approximation, simplification.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
idealization	Used when something is presented in a perfect or ideal form, often exaggerating positive aspects and minimizing negative ones. Usually implies a certain level of bias or unrealistic portrayal. Her idealization of her hometown made it hard for her to see its flaws The movie's idealization of the main character portrays him as flawless
simplification	Best suited when something complex is made easier to understand, usually by stripping it of unnecessary details. This can sometimes lead to loss of important information. The tutorial was a simplification of the software's full capabilities Her explanation was a simplification, but it helped everyone understand the basic idea
approximation	Used when referring to an estimate or a rough calculation that is close to the actual value but not exact. Often used in scientific and everyday contexts. The engineer provided an approximation of the project's cost Although it's not exact, this approximation will give us a good idea of the time needed
abstraction	Appropriate when discussing a concept that is general, theoretical, or not tied to specific instances; often used in art, philosophy, and science. In mathematics, abstraction helps to focus on the properties that different objects have in common The artist's abstraction of the landscape left much to the viewer's imagination

Examples of usage

The idealization of frictionless surfaces in physics experiments.
Engineers often use idealizations to simplify complex systems.
Mathematicians rely on idealizations to solve difficult problems.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

Idealization can occur in relationships, where one partner sees the other as perfect, ignoring their flaws.
This process can lead to disappointment when the real person doesn't match the imagined perfection.
It’s often a defense mechanism to cope with anxiety or dissatisfaction in life.

Literature

Many romantic poets, like Keats and Shelley, often idealized nature and love in their works.
In literature, characters can be idealized, making them seem larger than life and always good.
Writers sometimes use idealization to explore themes of unattainable perfection.

Art

Idealization in art can be seen in classical sculptures that depict gods and heroes in a flawless form.
Renaissance artists often idealized human figures, making them appear perfect and harmonious.
This practice allows artists to convey beauty and symmetry that may not exist in reality.

Cultural Perspectives

Different cultures may idealize traits, such as toughness in some societies versus softness in others.
Media often idealizes lifestyles, creating unrealistic standards for beauty and success.
Idealization plays a role in how historical figures are remembered, often overlooking their faults.

Science

In scientific models, idealization helps simplify complex systems to better understand them.
Physical theories often idealize objects to develop clearer predictions – like assuming a perfect sphere rather than a rough ball.
Ideal gas law is a common example, simplifying real gas behavior under certain conditions.

Translations

Translations of the word "idealization" in other languages:

🇵🇹 idealização

🇮🇳 आदर्शीकरण

🇩🇪 Idealisierung

🇮🇩 idealisasi

🇺🇦 ідеалізація

🇵🇱 idealizacja

🇯🇵 理想化 (risōka)

🇫🇷 idéalisation

🇪🇸 idealización

🇹🇷 idealizasyon

🇰🇷 이상화 (isanghwa)

🇸🇦 تَجْسِيد المِثَال

🇨🇿 idealizace

🇸🇰 idealizácia

🇨🇳 理想化 (lǐxiǎnghuà)

🇸🇮 idealizacija

🇮🇸 ímyndun

🇰🇿 идеализация

🇬🇪 იდეალიზაცია

🇦🇿 ideallaşdırma

🇲🇽 idealización

Word Frequency Rank

Positioned at #23,062, this word is part of extensive vocabulary. It's relatively rare in general usage but may be important in specific fields or formal writing.

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23059 remitting
23060 heron
23061 incontestable
23062 idealization
23063 antebellum
23064 pinnacles
23065 impassive
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