ego ideal
1
9.6
- noun
- /ˈiːɡoʊ aɪˈdɛl/
- Specialized
:
ego ideal
- And the ego ideal system has been altered: to be a mother now means 'to fight for all our children' or 'to fight for life.'
So there's, there's a important role for the ego ideal there as well.
- So there's, there's a important role for the ego ideal there as well.
Examples
-
In psychoanalytic terms, the scale indicates the extent to which parents serve as their child's identification object or ego ideal, as well as the degree to which parental authority is viewed as an instrument of learning.
Academic text (2008) -
One cannot have an effective ego-ideal until a reliable ego-status has been established.
Academic text (1990) -
There also exists a grade in the ego which may be called the ego ideal or the Super ego, right?
-
The ego-ideal serves as a "blueprint" for change, a kind of "road map" for action and desired change.
Academic text (1990) -
However, the different selves may all have individual ego ideals, needs, personality traits, and so forth.
Academic text (1993) -
She was adamant on the notion that all change in behavior problems is in a direction from the ego-status toward the ego-ideal.
Academic text (1991) -
Rogers and Dymond (1955) in later research clarified the notion of an ego-ideal as the basis for an intervention strategy and reinforced the notion that all change is in a direction from ego-status towards ego-ideal.
Academic text (1991) -
The ego ideal represents the internal standards that guide a person's aspirations for personal excellence.
-
In therapy, discussing one's ego ideal can help clarify personal goals and values.
-
Achieving your ego ideal often requires self-reflection and a commitment to personal improvement.
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'ego' (self/mental agency) and 'ideal' (a standard) together transparently suggest an internal standard or exemplar within the self, so a learner who knows both words could infer a rough meaning. However, this is a technical psychoanalytic term with specialized nuance beyond the literal combination, so the exact concept is not fully predictable without prior exposure.
Etymology
Ego ideal comes from two parts: ego meaning 'self' and ideal meaning 'perfect model'. Imagine a small picture in your mind of the perfect person you want to be. That inner picture guides you and makes you try to reach high goals, so the term means the part of you that sets 'personal standards'.