I want to know the answer to the following question:
What is it called when someone aspires to the characteristics of significant others?
All the background I'm provided with is that "These others may be benign - such that one aspires to their characteristics, values and beliefs (a process of idealistic-identification), or malign - when one wishes to dissociate from their characteristics (a process of defensive contra-identification)". Is that enough to answer the question?
Answer: yes