romanticizing

Romanticizing is the act of portraying or interpreting something in an idealized, romantic light, often emphasizing beauty, wonder, or positive emotions while downplaying complexity, risk, or harm. The term can apply to people, places, historical periods, social practices, or experiences, and may appear in everyday speech, media, or personal memory.

It can stem from romanticism as a literary and cultural impulse, as well as from cognitive tendencies such as nostalgia, positivity bias, and selective perception. Romanticizing may serve adaptive functions, providing motivation, comfort, or a sense of meaning. It can also reflect or reinforce wishful thinking, aspiration, or escapism.

The effects of romanticizing are mixed. Positive outcomes can include inspiration, resilience, and a hopeful outlook. Negative outcomes include unrealistic expectations, distorted risk assessment, and disappointment when reality fails to match the ideal. When applied to sensitive topics—such as trauma, abuse, or historical oppression—romanticizing can minimize harm, erase lived experience, or normalize harmful dynamics.

In media and culture, romanticizing appears in depictions of travel, fashion, or past eras, and in the glamourization of certain lifestyles or relationships. It is distinct from genuine affection or the literary genre of romance; it overlaps with related ideas like idealization and glamourization, but is specifically characterized by an idealized lens that may obscure complexity.

Approaches to mitigate harmful effects include critical evaluation, seeking diverse perspectives, verifying facts, and balancing admiration with realism. Being mindful of context, power, consent, and the limits of one’s understanding can help maintain a more nuanced view.