ego ideal

noun

, Psychoanalysis.

1. a more or less conscious ideal of personal excellence derived from a composite image of the characteristics of persons, initially those of the parents, with whom the individual identifies.

ego ideal

noun

1. psychoanal an internal ideal of personal perfection that represents what one wants to be rather than what one ought to be and is derived from one's early relationship with one's parents See also superego

Word History and Origins

Origin of ego ideal¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Example Sentences

The whole situation can be completely summarised in a formula: The object has taken the place of the ego ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

It is even obvious, in many forms of love choice, that the object serves as a substitute for some unattained ego ideal of our own.

From Project Gutenberg

The primal father is the group ideal, which governs the ego in the place of the ego ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

There is always a feeling of triumph when something in the ego coincides with the ego ideal.

From Project Gutenberg

It is then set up again inside the ego, by means of identification, and severely condemned by the ego ideal.

From Project Gutenberg