Final answer:
The term for when an individual identifies with an idealized image of themselves to feel better is known as introjection, which serves as a psychological defense mechanism to boost self-esteem or manage conflicts.
Step-by-step explanation:
When an individual identifies with an idealized image of themselves to feel better, this is known as introjection. Introjection is a psychological defense mechanism wherein a person adopts the ideas, attitudes, or behaviors of others, especially those they admire, to bolster their self-esteem or cope with internal conflicts. For example, someone may subconsciously adopt the personality traits of a celebrity they look up to.
Other defense mechanisms include reaction formation, where individuals express the opposite of their true feelings; regression, reverting to behaviors from an earlier stage of development; and projection, attributing one's own undesirable thoughts or feelings onto someone else.