idealization

n. 1. The act or process of idealizing. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Fine Arts) The representation of natural objects, scenes, etc., in such a way as to show their most important characteristics; the study of the ideal. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A defense mechanism that splits something one is ambivalent about into two representations -- one good and one bad. [ wns=1 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

4. something that exists only as an idea. [ wns=2 ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

5. a protrayal of something as ideal. [ wns=3 ]
Syn. -- glorification. [ WordNet 1.5 ]