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Label

Element

Value

Risk/Return:

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Risk/Return [Heading]

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Fund Summary

Objective [Heading]

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Investment Objective

Objective, Primary [Text Block]

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The fund seeks capital appreciation.

Expense [Heading]

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Fees and Expenses

Expense Narrative [Text Block]

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This table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the fund. These figures do not reflect any fees or charges imposed by participating insurance companies under their Variable Annuity contracts (VA contracts) or Variable Life Insurance policies (VLI policies).

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

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Annual Fund Operating Expenses (expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

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Portfolio Turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

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The fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover may indicate higher transaction costs. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the Example, affect the fund's performance. During the most recent fiscal year, the fund's portfolio turnover rate was 72.20% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

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Expense Example [Heading]

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Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

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The Example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The Example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods. The Example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the fund's operating expenses remain the same. The Example does not reflect fees and expenses incurred under VA contracts and VLI policies; if they were reflected, the figures in the Example would be higher. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Strategy [Heading]

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Principal Investment Strategy

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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To pursue its goal, the fund normally invests at least 80% of its net assets, plus any borrowings for investment purposes, in the stocks of growth companies of any size that The Dreyfus Corporation believes to be leading producers or beneficiaries of technological innovation. Up to 25% of the fund's assets may be invested in foreign securities (i.e., securities issued by companies organized under the laws of countries other than the U.S.).

In choosing stocks, the fund looks for technology companies with the potential for strong earnings or revenue growth rates, although some of the fund's investments may currently be experiencing losses. The fund's investment process centers on a multi-dimensional approach that looks for opportunities across emerging growth, cyclical or stable growth companies. The fund's investment approach seeks companies that appear to have strong earnings momentum, positive earnings revisions, favorable growth, product or market cycles and/or favorable valuations.

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Principal Risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

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An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency. It is not a complete investment program. The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

· Risks of stock investing. Stocks generally fluctuate more in value than bonds and may decline significantly over short time periods. There is the chance that stock prices overall will decline because stock markets tend to move in cycles, with periods of rising prices and falling prices. The market value of a stock may decline due to general market conditions or because of factors that affect the particular company or the company's industry.

· Growth stock risk. Investors often expect growth companies to increase their earnings at a certain rate. If these expectations are not met, investors can punish the stocks inordinately, even if earnings do increase. In addition, growth stocks may lack the dividend yield that may cushion stock prices in market downturns.

· Technology company risk. The technology sector has been among the most volatile sectors of the stock market. Because the fund's investments are concentrated in the technology sector, its performance will be significantly affected by developments in that sector. Technology companies, especially small-cap technology companies, involve greater risk because their revenue and/or earnings tend to be less predictable (and some companies may be experiencing significant losses) and their share prices tend to be more volatile. Certain technology companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources, or may depend on a limited management group. In addition, these companies are strongly affected by worldwide technological developments, and their products and services may not be economically successful or may quickly become outdated. Investor perception may play a greater role in determining the day-to-day value of tech stocks than it does in other sectors. Fund investments made in anticipation of future products and services may decline dramatically in value if the anticipated products or services are delayed or cancelled. The risks associated with technology companies are magnified in the case of small-cap technology companies. The shares of smaller technology companies tend to trade less frequently than those of larger, more established companies, which can have an adverse effect on the pricing of these securities and on the fund's ability to sell these securities.

· Foreign investment risk. To the extent the fund invests in foreign securities, the fund's performance will be influenced by political, social and economic factors affecting investments in foreign issuers. Special risks associated with investments in foreign issuers include exposure to currency fluctuations, less liquidity, less developed or less efficient trading markets, lack of comprehensive company information, political and economic instability and differing auditing and legal standards. Investments denominated in foreign currencies are subject to the risk that such currencies will decline in value relative to the U.S. dollar and affect the value of these investments held by the fund.

· Liquidity risk. When there is little or no active trading market for specific types of securities, it can become more difficult to sell the securities in a timely manner at or near their perceived value. In such a market, the value of such securities and the fund's share price may fall dramatically.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

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The fund's share price fluctuates, sometimes dramatically, which means you could lose money.

Risk Not Insured Depository Institution [Text]

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An investment in the fund is not a bank deposit. It is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or any other government agency.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

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Performance

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

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The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund. The bar chart shows changes in the performance of the fund's Initial shares from year to year. The table compares the average annual total returns of the fund's shares to those of a broad measure of market performance. The fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future. More recent performance information may be available at www.dreyfus.com.

Performance information reflects the fund's expenses only and does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies under their VA contracts or VLI policies. Because these fees and charges will reduce total return, policyowners should consider them when evaluating and comparing the fund's performance. Policyowners should consult the prospectus for their contract or policy for more information.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

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The following bar chart and table provide some indication of the risks of investing in the fund.

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

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www.dreyfus.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

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The fund's past performance is not necessarily an indication of how the fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

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Year-by-Year Total Returns as of 12/31 each year (%) Initial Shares

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

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Performance information reflects the fund's expenses only and does not reflect the fees and charges imposed by participating insurance companies under their VA contracts or VLI policies.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

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Best Quarter
Q3, 2010: 23.44%

Worst Quarter
Q4, 2008: -21.36%

Highest Quarterly Return, Label

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Best Quarter

Highest Quarterly Return, Date

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Sep. 30, 2010

Highest Quarterly Return

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Lowest Quarterly Return, Label

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Worst Quarter

Lowest Quarterly Return, Date

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Dec. 31, 2008

Lowest Quarterly Return

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Index No Deduction for Fees, Expenses, Taxes [Text]

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reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes

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Average Annual Total Returns (as of 12/31/14)

S&P 500® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes

Risk/Return:

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Average Annual Returns, 1 Year

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Average Annual Returns, 5 Years

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Average Annual Returns, 10 Years

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Morgan Stanley High Technology 35® Index reflects no deduction for fees, expenses or taxes

Risk/Return:

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Average Annual Returns, 1 Year

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Average Annual Returns, 5 Years

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Average Annual Returns, 10 Years

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Technology Growth Portfolio - Initial Shares

Risk/Return:

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Management fees

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Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

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none

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Total annual fund operating expenses

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

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Annual Return 2005

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Annual Return 2006

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Annual Return 2007

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Annual Return 2008

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Annual Return 2009

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Annual Return 2010

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Annual Return 2011

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Annual Return 2012

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Annual Return 2013

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Annual Return 2014

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Average Annual Returns, 1 Year

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Average Annual Returns, 5 Years

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Average Annual Returns, 10 Years

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Technology Growth Portfolio - Service Shares

Risk/Return:

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Management fees

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Distribution and/or service (12b-1) fees

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Total annual fund operating expenses

rr_ExpensesOverAssets

Expense Example, with Redemption, 1 Year

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 3 Years

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 5 Years

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Expense Example, with Redemption, 10 Years

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Average Annual Returns, 1 Year

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Average Annual Returns, 5 Years

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Average Annual Returns, 10 Years

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