Finkel says supporting a partner's image of his ideal self in this way, whether it is a vague yearning or a clearly articulated mental representation, helps the loved one reduce the discrepancy between the actual self and the ideal self.

芬克尔说，以这样的方式支持伴侣对理想自我的想象，无论这种想象是一种模糊的渴望，还是一种清晰的心理表征，都有助于帮助所爱的人缩小现实自我和理想自我之间的差距。