Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism idealization (1 minute read)

This post “Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism idealization“ continues with how you can increase your self-esteem by getting to know and manage your thoughts and feelings.

Increase your self-esteem by understanding the primitive defense mechanism idealization:

Idealization is a defense mechanism that copes with anxiety and ambivalence by avoiding thoughts of own or other’s less flattering or threatening sides. Instead one is idealizing oneself or others by attributing extreme, unrealistic and overly positive qualities.

In child development idealization is normal, later replaced by the ability to see others as complex human beings having both good and bad sides.

We tend to idealize those things that we have chosen or acquired.

Examples of idealization:

An example is when teenagers idealize their idols, imagining them to have a perfect life and great personalities while ignoring negative information and bad behaviors.

Or idealizing a vacation and thinking about how perfect it will be, not preparing for possible incidents such as unpredictable weather, diseases, bugs etc.

Idealizing is also when consider our decisions as being wise and intelligent by backing them up with argumentation and at the same time downplaying contradictory factors. By doing this we supress doubts that we have made the wrong decision. This creates a greater contrast that makes the good arguments seem even better.

More about how you can increase your self-esteem in the next post. See also the free blog or the course How to develop self-esteem and boost your confidence at https://jennyrappbefree.com