Pygmalionism

Pygmalionism: when art surpasses life

Pygmalionism is a phenomenon in which a person falls in love with his creation, be it a painting, sculpture, book or even a computer program. The term comes from the Greek mythical sculptor Pygmalion, who created a beautiful statue and fell in love with it so much that the gods turned it into a living woman.

Pygmalionism is not just an aesthetic fascination with one's creations, it is a phenomenon that can influence people's lives and behavior. For example, art can inspire new ideas, change one's outlook, and even help overcome depression and anxiety. However, falling in love with your creation too much can lead to problems.

Pygmalionism can manifest itself in different forms. For example, a writer may be so in love with his main character that he begins to write about him as a real person and even communicate with him. A sculptor may constantly return to his sculpture and correct it, which can lead to the work never being finished. A programmer can get so carried away by his program that he begins to perceive it as a living being and pay more attention to it than to real people.

Some researchers have linked pygmalionism to certain forms of mental disorders such as schizophrenia. However, most Pygmalionists do not suffer from mental illness, but are simply accustomed to the fact that their creations play an important role in their lives.

Pygmalionism can be both a positive and negative phenomenon. On the one hand, it can be a source of inspiration and creativity, helping to create great works of art. On the other hand, it can lead to isolation and alienation from the real world.

It is important to learn to find a balance between being passionate about your creation and living in the real world. Art should inspire and help develop, but not replace real relationships and contacts with the outside world.

In conclusion, Pygmalionism is a phenomenon that can lead to both positive and negative consequences. It is important to learn to find a balance between creativity and life, so that art does not replace real life, but becomes an inspiration for its development.



Pygmalionism is a term denoting a person’s desire to shape another person according to his ideal and ideas.

The name comes from the name of Pygmalion, a character from ancient Greek mythology. According to myth, Pygmalion was a talented sculptor who created a statue of an ideal woman and fell in love with her. Begging the goddess Aphrodite to revive the statue, Pygmalion achieved his goal - the statue turned into the living girl Galatea.

In psychology, the term "pygmalionism" is used to describe a situation where a person tries to mold the personality of another according to his ideal, imposing his ideas, tastes and values. Pygmalionism often manifests itself in relationships between mentor and student, parent and child, psychotherapist and client.

Pygmalionism can have both positive and negative consequences. On the one hand, a mentor can help reveal the potential of a mentee, on the other hand, he can suppress his individuality. Therefore, in modern psychology, pygmalionism is viewed rather as an undesirable phenomenon that violates the individual’s right to self-realization.