Compensation is defense mechanism where one avoids discomfort by over achieving and strengthening in one area of lack to counterbalance a perceived or real weakness or feeling of inferiority in another.
- A strength to counter an inferiority
- A superiority to counter an inferiority.
- A positive to counter a negative.
- An Achievement to counter a failure
- A pursuit for gratification to compensate for emptiness.
- A strength to counter a weakness.
- An improvement to compensate for an inadequacy.
One Alfred Adler, one stubborn student of Freud was among the first psychoanalyst to talk about Compensation in his school of individual psychology.
According to Adler, the striving for superiority is one of the main goal among almost every adult to compensate for perceived inferiorities in childhood. That people tend to develop both psychological and physical abilities to counterbalance perceived inferiorities and weakness.
Terms associated with Alfred Adler;
Inferiority complex – This can be feelings of inadequacy with one’s life, qualities or abilities. Eg: Someone with low self-esteem.
Superiority Complex An inverse of inferiority where someone obsesses over the positive aspects of his life, skills, traits and abilities eg; someone with grandiose tendencies. In Robert Greene’s words -” Those who walk around with imaginary crowns on their heads”
Think of the process of compensation as a psychological lever or see-saw we push or pull to balance our weaknesses, inadequacies, frustrations or stress to avoid uncomfortable feelings and maintain inner balance.
Or think of someone sliding down a stride and decides to hold on the other side of the slide to ensure he doesn’t go down and balance is maintained.
Or think of your life as a sailing boat. One part of the sailing boat is drowning in water and to avoid sinking, you hold on or jump to the other part of the boat to continue floating.
The Three Types of Compensation.
While most emphasize on two types lf compensation, we shall add a third for compensation is not all maladaptive.
- 1. Over compensation – Here an individual strives to excell above and beyond the initial inadequate area by compensating in a superior manner such as striving for power, fame, beauty, dominance etc.
- Under compensation – Under compensation occurs where one lacks trust in one’s abilities. He may compensate by being dependent on others.
- Adaptive Compensation – Here an individual develops better coping mechanism to overcome discomfort that comes from inadequacies in another area.
Consider Brian whose needs to get attention was never met in childhood that he grew up feeling invisible. To compensate for this “I’m invisible ” syndrome of his, he may decide to over compensate by excessively seeking validation and fame and this is over compensation. Brian may also compensate by unconsciously developing a victim mind-set and be a drama magnet who always draws people in his woes to unconsciously feel visible and this is called Under Compensation. On the other hand, If brian decides to scratch the surface and adress the underlying problem before focusing on self care and giving himself the attention he desperately craves from the external world, we could call this an Adaptive Compensation.
An individual who experiences career setbacks and decides to start a business may also be employing the third mechanism.
The Flow types of Compensation.
1. The parallel flow- Here the inferior aspects and compensating area or aspect flow in the same direction and are related.
For instance ; The individual who experiences a career setbacks and decides to start his business.
2. The Opposite Flow- Unlike the parallel flow, here they flow in different direction but are related. For instance; An individual who had a agressive tendencies developing pacifism tendencies to compensate for his weakness.
A boy who loved girls experiences a romantic heartbreak from and develops extreme hatred for girls and dating.
3. The Tangential flow – Unlike the above that are related, the tangential flow involves the inferior aspects and compensating aspects unrelated. Eg; An individual who insecure about their physical appearance compensate by focusing on the attainment of intellectual skills and abilities.
Examples of Compensation in Daily Lives;
1. A shy kid may focus on writing instead of taking active roles and activities such as acting.
2. An individual with romantic relationship problems eg; Rejection focuses on career to compensate.
3. A couple fresh from divorce now focuses on his projects or career to compensate for failure in his life.
4. An individual betrayed after expecting help resorts to self-reliance habits to compensate for the discomfort that arouse from the other habit.
5. Many neuroscientists link addiction as a compensation to overcome the mental discomfort that comes from traumatic experiences.
6. An individual who fails to get his needs met on the good side of life compensates his inadequacy on the bad side of life. For instance; An individual who fails to secure or establish a career decides to become a robber or thief to meet his needs.
7. The constant pursuit for material wealth has been associated with compensation of perceive inadequacies within or without.
8. An individual insecure about his intellectual abilities develops a humorous personality to compensate for his inadequacy in other aspects of life.
9. A female who has experienced a romantic divorce compensates for this failure in her relationship by focusing on her career or business or to parenting where he becomes a good mother to the kids.
10. A manager that lacks abilities to set rules and command his subordinates under compensates by relying on a fellow manager or delegating some of the duties to a junior to avoid taking on the role.
Compensation and other Defense Mechanisms.
Most defense mechanisms work in tandem with each other and Anna Freud herself acknowledged the fact that most defense mechanisms don’t operate in isolation. One defense mechanism may lead to others and two may be in operation at the same time.
Compensation vs Sublimation.
Sublimation is where unacceptable impulses are transformed into socially acceptable impulses. We can associate sublimating actions such as An individual angered by a conflict but is insecure about his physical abilities in fighting advocating for peace as a compensation of acceptable impulses to mask unacceptable impulses.
Compensation vs Displacement.
Displacement is where an impulse is redirected from it’s original source to another that is much more safer and less anxiety-arousing. For instance; An individual raised by a harsh authoritative father later comes to hate all figures in authorities. Compensation on the other hand is when the perceived feeling pf powerless is later compensated by dominance in relationships eg; a Controlling husband or father just like the father.
Compensation vs Reaction formation.
In Reaction formation an unacceptable belief, attitude, emotion, behaviour, wish or desire is repressed to the unconscious mind and it’s opposite expressed in an exaggerated manner for instance Anger and overt cheerfulness, envy and extreme support, hatred and extreme nice ness. Reaction formation can be a form pf compensation where an unacceptable trait or feeling is compensated with a less threatening one. For instance; A feared Boss scolds at an employee who instead of feeling resentful (a feeling he unconsciously represses from the conscious mind), smiles to the Boss and acts extremely agreeable. The inadequacy experienced in expressing the authentic feeling and impulse is compensated by an opposite impulse that is much more express able.
Repression and Avoidance and Compensation in Tandem.
Jane was once asked to give a speech by her teacher in which she performed poorly, something that made her peers to laugh at her. The embarrassing moment sounded appalling to her that she unconsciously repressed the memory. Later she would avoid all events that would make her speak infront of a crowd. To compensate for this inadequacy, Jane decided to focus on writing poems and prose. The repression of the painful memory was followed by avoidance of similar experiences to avoid discomfort and a compensation of her weakness in public speaking with writing.
Related : Repression Defense Mechanism in real life
Repression, Reaction formation, Displacement and Compensation in tandem.
Gloria was raised by harsh parents who would punish her for even small mistakes. Despite the abusive treatment, Gloria loved her parents and unconsciously repressed the resentment she had for her parents. However when time to select a marriage partner came, Gloria unconsciously chose a partner who parents won’t approve of.
Gloria’s cheerful and agreeableness amid the abuse is a clear example of Reaction formation in action. The repressed resentment was displaced from it’s original source that came from the abusive treatment to a much safer outlet – selection pf partner to piss them off. We can say Gloria is compensating her feeling of powerlessness in her relationship with power with control and power in choosing a partner. A kid neglected by the father equally neglecting his father in adulthood might also be depicting this form of compensation.
Related: Displacement defense mechanism in Real Life
Compensation and Narcissism.
Many experts link most narcissistic characteristics to compensation of inner emptiness.
For instance; An individual with self-aggrandizing qualities engages in traits such as talking highly of themselves, bragging or contacting highly admired persons as an unconscious effort to mask and compensate for their feelings of low self-worth.
Child psychologist Melanie Klein claimed that children tend to fantasize about power, fame and richness to compensate for their jealousy, anger and inferiority.
Negative Effects of Compensation.
1. Sometimes over-reliance on our strengths and positive aspects may leave the other side vulnerable.
2. Over compensation and under compensation may lead to further imbalance in our lives and personality.
3. Avoidance of our weaknesses and inadequacies may hinder growth that would otherwise be possible had we addressed the issue.
Positive Effects of Compensation.
1. Help us regain our self-worth.
2. It can be a driver of growth especially if the compensation involves gaining skills and expertise in the other area.
3. Compensation is a driver of many achievements and success in life.
How to Cope with Compensation.
To Cope with compensation.
1. Develop self-awareness. It’s harder or impossible to change anything you’re not aware of and hence being mindful of our actions and behaviours is key.
2. Practice Self-care activities – Taking care of our physical, mental and spiritual aspects is key.
3. Seek counseling services from a professional who will offer advice.
Childhood vs Adulthood.
Adler asserted that the goal of everyone in adulthood is achieving a sense of superiority. This may be demonstrated in the way people talk highly of themselves, pursue power, talk highly pf their careers or bask in reflected glories by associating themselves with what is already great out there eg; Football teams, Politicians etc.
Alfred believed that this was all a compensation for a sense of inferiority experienced in childhood. The inadequacy in childhood is compensated for in adulthood. That child whose needs wasn’t met become highly driven. That child who felt powerless becomes domineering, controlling or seeks power over others, That child raised in poverty seeks material wealth and may even become a braggart to compensate for the lack experienced in childhood. That child who never received attention in childhood or felt invisible becomes a constant attention seeker. That Boy who never received love from the mother may later become a classic rake to compensate for the unmet need experienced in childhood.
Good Side vs Bad side of life.
Alfred Adler claimed that individuals who fail to have their needs met on the good side of life may try to compensate for this inferiority or inadequacies on the bad side life. This applies to both material, love and attention.
For instance; Kids are sometimes rude or stubborn both at home and school just to get the attention if attempts to meet on the good side of life fails. Infact Adler used an example of criminals who after failing to meet their own needs in the good side of life resort to the bad side of life to have them meet. The needs remain the same but the mechanism through which they’re met chances.
Going by Alfred Adler’s assertion, Is this why Teachers in school sometimes reward leadership position to stubborn students? Shifting them from the bad side of life to the good side of life?