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