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CriticaLink | Freud: On Narcissism | Terms

sublimation

In Freud's usage in "On Narcissism," sublimation occurs when the mind directs object-libido toward objects that have nothing to do with sexual satisfaction. A nun, for example, might sublimate her sexual desires into her love of God or her commitment to helping the poor. In this essay, Freud emphasize that sublimation is about such a deflection from sexuality, and contrasts it with idealization, which has to do with altering the perception and value of a particular object.