bovarism

noun

bo·​va·​rism

ˈbōvəˌrizəm

variants or bovarysm

plural -s

: a conception of oneself as other than one is to the extent that one's general behavior is conditioned or dominated by the conception

especially : domination by such an idealized, glamorized, glorified, or otherwise unreal conception of oneself that it results in dramatic personal conflict (as in tragedy), in markedly unusual behavior (as in paranoia), or in great achievement

Word History

Etymology

French bovarysme, from Madame Bovary (principal character in the novel Madame Bovary by Gustave Flaubert †1880 French novelist) + -isme -ism

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