desire to change one's appearance; obsession with transformation
Often used in psychological or colloquial contexts to describe a strong wish to alter one's looks, identity, or body. Can imply a deep-seated or compulsive desire.
She has a strong desire to change her appearance and changes her hairstyle every month.
I'm writing a novel themed around the obsession with transformation.
変身 is the act of transforming or changing one's appearance, while 変身願望 is the psychological desire or obsession to do so.
願望 is a general term for a wish or desire, whereas 変身願望 specifies the object of that desire as personal transformation.
Compound of 変身 (transformation) and 願望 (desire, wish). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the word is a straightforward modern combination.