Compensation (psychology) – what is it, examples from life

Compensation in psychology is considered as one of the types of psychological protection. Every person has shortcomings and this is a fact. But some people know how to put up with them, and others include compensation. This process allows you to replace shortcomings and the feelings of inferiority they cause with something else. For example, short men buy big cars or build relationships with tall girls, thus trying to rise in their own eyes and in the eyes of others. Does it bring you a feeling of satisfaction? Does compensation really protect the psyche from psychological trauma and negative emotions?

Compensation - what is it?

In psychology, compensation is one of the methods of psychological defense in which a person replaces shortcomings with something. They come in three types:

1. Visible. These are the shortcomings that clearly catch your eye. These include: absence of limbs, various neoplasms on open parts of the body, scars, consequences of burns, etc. Most people form an opinion about themselves based on what society says. And if we take into account the fact that society is rarely tolerant and tactful, we can conclude that such people almost always live in a state of stress.
2. Invisible. Such disadvantages include disturbances in the functioning of internal organs, which negatively affect the functioning of the body as a whole and the psychological state.
3. Imaginary or fictitious. A person invents shortcomings for himself or they are the result of psychological trauma that happened in childhood. So, for example, someone considers himself very ugly, although in fact his appearance is no worse than that of the people around him.

Compensation is required for each of the listed types of deficiencies. It is interesting that it can be connected both with the deficiency itself and with the aspirations that replace it. In the first case, Paralympic athletes can be used as an example, and in the second, blind musicians, etc.

Alfred Adler was the first to talk about compensation mechanisms. According to him, compensation for inferiority is a normal phenomenon in the life of every person. Inferiority, as Adler believed, is of three types:

1. Physiological - absence of body parts, hearing, vision, etc.
2. Socio-cultural - these are age, gender, political and economic differences that can make you feel inferior.
3. The original one is biological inferiority, which throughout the history of mankind has encouraged people to develop science, technology, art and other areas.

Sigmund Freud did not agree with Adler's words. He said that inferiority does not always deprive a person of a happy life. As an example, he cited people who, even in the absence of any parts of the body, or, for example, vision, did not lose self-confidence, did not feel discriminated against or offended by fate. Freud believed that it is easier to find someone who is prone to narcissism than those who consider themselves inferior people.

Trying to object, Adler argued that the inferiority complex is only an idea that can explain the psychological processes occurring in the body. There is no need to talk about actual usefulness here, because it is relative. For each individual, nation and culture, the concept of a full-fledged personality may change.

In fact, inferiority is a so-called motivator that prompts us to action and activates the compensation process.

COMPENSATORY MECHANISMS OF PERSONAL BEHAVIOR

Speaking about the possibilities of compensatory mechanisms, it is necessary to raise the question of the reserves of the human psyche, as the source of those human abilities that manifest themselves in a crisis situation, and the existence of which in everyday life he is not even aware of. Most theories of personality (A. Adler, Z. Freud, G. Sullivan) consider the issue of compensatory phenomena in human nature, but a general theory of compensation has not developed in psychology. At the same time, empirical experience allows us to talk about a sufficient variety of manifestations of this phenomenon in the mental life of a person. The concept of compensation, adopted in psychology, involves compensation for underdeveloped, impaired mental functions through the use of preserved or restructuring of partially impaired functions. Within the same property of the nervous system, the foundations of natural primary compensation are also laid, where each property of the system is a dialectical unity of manifestations that are opposite from the point of view of life value. The works of V.D. Nebylitsyn revealed that compensatory relationships of a primary, natural nature are possible not only within the framework of any one given property of the nervous system, but also in the form of replacing one property of the nervous system with another. The lack of efficiency of a weak cell is compensated by the presence of other qualitative advantages [4]. Primary compensatory mechanisms are compensatory relationships between natural manifestations of properties such as the nervous system and temperament, for example, between the manifestation of strength and weakness of nervous excitation. For example, in emotional extroverts, the rapid onset of a state of monotony is compensated by the slow onset of a state of fatigue, while in introverts, the slow onset of a state of monotony inhibits the onset of fatigue. Secondary compensatory mechanisms are projected onto the individual style of activity, i.e., a system of interconnected, purposeful methods of action that are formed in accordance with the properties of the general type of nervous system and serve as a source of harmonious productive existence of the individual. Typical examples of compensation in the field of mental processes can be observed in the cognitive structure. Compensation for weak mechanical memory can be achieved through associative memory, which ultimately does not lead to memory impairment in general. Infantility or memory impairment can be compensated for by more clearly organizing the activity being performed and its algorithmization. Weak distribution of attention can be compensated by switching it. In other words, the natural deficiency of one function can be compensated by the exercise of another. The compensation effect also reveals itself during the formation of character, when, with the weakening of one character trait, another develops, as if in the capacity of this shortcoming. In everyday life, in various situations, a person uses certain techniques for self-defense of his own personality. Some of the commonly used psychological defense mechanisms are of a fairly pronounced compensatory nature, for example: compensation for some personal failures or dissatisfaction with the main job through various kinds of hobbies during leisure hours; an appeal to the world of fantasy, where a person is free to see himself in any quality that is significant to him, the embodiment of which in real life is difficult. The role of the compensation mechanism in ensuring the productivity of professional activity and regulating the structure of professionally important qualities is obvious. Insufficient expression of some personal property can be compensated by the maturity of substructures. For a fairly large class of tasks solved by the operator and in the case of extreme information overload, the most typical compensation technique is filtering, i.e., selecting and passing individual signals. It is known that people with a high level of anxiety are characterized by increased self-control, which they turn to in the process of receiving and processing information in order to compensate for their own uncertainty about the correctness of decisions made. A number of professions involve human activity in extreme conditions, especially in conditions of sensory isolation and in conditions of risk. Cosmonauts, sailors, participants in long-distance expeditions, etc. find themselves under the influence of this inherently stressful factor. The need to work for a long time away from home and family, with a sharply limited circle of contacts, in conditions of insufficient information, increases the meaning of compensation. For example, keeping diary entries helps compensate for the lack of communication and alleviates emotional tension. In conditions of loneliness, a person resorts to various ways to compensate for the lack of interpersonal contacts. In an effort to artificially recreate the disturbed social sphere, a person turns to egocentric speech, that is, he talks to himself, asks himself questions, answers them, argues with himself, thereby imitating the situation of a dialogue with an imaginary interlocutor. However, despite this general trend, there is preservation of working capacity, which is achieved by the inclusion of central compensatory mechanisms that ensure general biological and social activity at a fairly high level. The most important and common defense mechanisms can be presented in the following groups [3]. The first group consists of defense mechanisms, which are united by the lack of processing of the content of what is being repressed, suppressed, blocked or denied. The second group consists of protective mechanisms associated with the transformation (or rather, distortion) of the content of thoughts, feelings, behavior (rationalization, opposition, projection, substitution, intellectualization, isolation). The third group of methods of psychological defense consists of mechanisms for discharging negative emotional tension (realization in action, sublimation). The fourth group is represented by manipulative type mechanisms. These include regression. Regression is characterized by a return to various childhood behavior patterns. Fantasy as a psychological defense lies in the fact that a person, by embellishing himself and his life, increases his sense of self-worth and control over the environment. Withdrawal into illness is a defense mechanism, during the formation of which a person refuses responsibility and independent solution of problems, justifies his failure with illness, seeks care and recognition, playing the role of the patient. Each of the defense mechanisms described above is a separate way in which a person’s unconscious protects him from internal and external stress. In the system of overcoming crisis situations, psychological defense mechanisms are closely related to coping mechanisms (coping mechanisms) as active, predominantly conscious efforts of a person aimed at mastering a situation or problem [1, p. 732]. Analysis of behavioral coping strategies of the individual allowed O.G. Vlasova classify them in accordance with the direction of the subject’s activity vector: directly to the object of the threat, deep into the traumatic situation (transformative strategies); on oneself (strategies for adapting personal parameters and attitudes to the situation); from the object of threat (distancing strategies of care, escape from problems) [2]. Transformative coping strategies are aimed directly at transforming a traumatic situation. This group of strategies is characterized by the fact that the subject, having made a decision about the possibility of a positive change in the situation, formulates it for himself as a problem, defining final and intermediate goals, outlining a plan of action, and determining ways to achieve the goal. We include in this group of strategies the active solution of one’s own problems and the search for social support. In general, strategies for “escape” from a problem, despite the variety of their manifestations (in the practical, interpersonal or psychological sphere), are united into a single group by the focus of the subject’s activity on distancing himself from the object of the threat, which is irremovable from his point of view. These strategies represent a very wide range of manifestations: distraction - turning to some activity, going to work; altruism - caring for others, when one's own needs are relegated to the background; active avoidance of “immersion” in the problem; compensation - distracting fulfillment of some personal desires; withdrawal into oneself - staying at peace and thinking about oneself, etc. The breadth of the spectrum of this group of strategies suggests the inclusion of both positive, socially acceptable strategies and asocial, destructive ones, the extreme expression of which is attempts to leave, associated with the use of tranquilizers, alcohol , drugs, and suicidal activity [2]. As we see, in any case, the content of ego-protective tendencies that distort or hide the threatening impulses of a crisis situation from a person is determined by intrapersonal specifics.

References 1. Aleshina, Yu.E. Individual and family psychological counseling. - M., 1993. 220 p. 2. Vlasova, O.G. Psychological protection as a means of personal development of students: Diss... candidate of psychological sciences. – Stavropol, 1998. – 176 p. 3. Karvasarsky, B.D. Group psychotherapy. - M., Medicine, 1990. 304 p. 4. Nebylitsin, V. D. Problems of individuality psychology. - M.: MPSI; Voronezh: Publishing house NPO "MODEK", 2000. - 688 p.

Kinds

Compensation can be direct or indirect. The first involves trying to become successful in precisely the area that is directly related to the deficiency. The second speaks of the desire to achieve success in a different direction.

In psychology, there are also these types of compensation:

• real;
• over or overcompensation;
• pseudo-compensation.

Let's look at each of them in more detail.

Real

What is real compensation in psychology? This is the ability to adapt to new living conditions. It concerns those people who previously considered themselves inferior, but then were able to cope with their shortcomings and now lead a normal life.

Alfred Adler identified a number of conditions necessary to activate compensation of this type:

• desire to achieve superiority;
• desire to gain power;
• perseverance and willpower;
• interest in what is happening around.

Adler was sure that this type of compensation occurs in almost all people who, to one degree or another, are faced with an inferiority complex.

Overcompensation

It represents increased attention to an underdeveloped ability or weak part of the body, and their enhanced development. This also includes working with other organs and abilities whose training will help you achieve success.

So, for example, a person who has difficulties communicating with people around him can, as compensation, delve deeper into the study of languages ​​or some sciences. In this way he will replace his deficiency and become a genius.

Pseudocompensation

In the case of this type, compensation occurs not due to the fact that a person directs efforts towards his own development, but through the manipulation of other people.

The reasons for the occurrence of pseudo-compensation were named by Adler:

1. Physical disabilities that negatively affect health or provoke constant psychological stress.
2. Overprotection, excessive care, forgiveness of absolutely all shortcomings and misdeeds, leading to the development of selfishness, capriciousness, and intolerance.
3. Lack of love, lack of communication with family and friends, lack of opportunity to talk openly with someone. All this leads to the fact that a person can no longer trust others and loses the ability to be a friend and love.

There are several ways in which pseudocompensation can manifest itself:

1. Complete withdrawal from illness. A person uses his condition to manipulate others. This happens even in cases where the disease does not have any serious consequences. Always and everywhere he expects indulgences, presses on the feeling of pity, asserts himself at the expense of others, and also uses them to achieve his own goals.
2. Withdrawal into weakness. Here a person tries on the role of a victim, becoming weak and helpless. He draws extremely bad scenarios for himself, kills ambitions in the bud, and does not set goals. But that’s not even the worst thing. The point is that he does it consciously.
3. Superiority. The exact opposite of inferiority. Trying to get away from an unpleasant feeling, a person does everything to become indispensable, better than everyone else.
4. Laziness. An individual who considers himself inferior refuses to do anything in order to avoid possible problems.
5. Self-promotion. People who have some shortcomings try by any means to show themselves to others from their advantageous side. It is important for them to receive approval and praise. That is why they depend so much on other people's opinions.

It turns out that the type of compensation a person chooses determines how his future life will turn out. Pseudo-compensation will definitely not lead to anything good. Overcompensation, on the contrary, will help you achieve success.

The foregoing should not create the impression that compensatory processes exist in isolation from all the life processes of a disabled person. Separate consideration of compensation phenomena is a product of abstraction. In fact, they are only one of the aspects of his integral life activity and development. If damage to a particular organ or function turns out to be compatible with life, this means that in this case compensatory mechanisms have worked. In such a situation, life continues in new unfavorable conditions simultaneously with the process of restoration (compensation), because they cannot exist separately. In the figurative expression of A. R. Luria, “a person cannot “close” for repairs.”

Another term closely related to the concept of compensation is decompensation, which is understood as the loss of a previously achieved compensatory effect under the influence of pathogenic influences. In terms of the ease of occurrence and stability, decompensatory states are very variable and largely depend on the strength and durability of the restorative effect.

In special psychology, another concept similar in content is often used - pseudocompensation. It captures a person’s stable tendencies to inadequately use defense mechanisms and coping strategies that do not allow a person to find a productive way out of the current crisis situation.

The fate of the concept of “overcompensation” has developed in a special way in special psychology. It is very difficult to give an unambiguous definition of this term, because it is interpreted extremely contradictorily. Sometimes it is used as a synonym for pseudocompensation in the sense of inadequate choice of means of recovery.

The original meaning of this concept, introduced into the professional psychological dictionary by A. Adler, is somewhat different. A. Adler himself gives it different definitions, the general meaning of which boils down to those few cases when persons with serious deficiencies in physical and mental development were able to achieve high results in a variety of areas of human activity that were not available to most normal people. In his works, A. Adler gives many examples of overcompensation, pointing out that the mechanism of its implementation is associated with a natural feeling of low value for a person,

on the one hand, and a pronounced
motive for superiority,
on the other. The desire for superiority is understood by A. Adler positively, as a tendency towards development, towards self-improvement. Thus, long before the advent of humanistic psychology, A. Adler anticipated its main postulates.

Compensation as a type of psychological protection

As with other types of psychological defense, the task of compensation is to protect the psyche from the influence of negative emotions. It begins in childhood, when the child understands what needs to be done in order to become valuable in the eyes of others and to gain approval. For example, many are told that they will be loved and respected only if they become rich. This encourages grown-up children to direct all their strength and capabilities to making money.

If we consider compensation as a psychological defense mechanism, then we can say that it is an escape from problems. Compensating for his shortcomings, a person tries to escape reality. He doesn't want to find out why his life is bad in his current circumstances.

The opinion of the majority plays a big role in this matter. Many of us are used to agreeing with him. And this is not surprising, since people who look at things differently are often considered crazy. Over time, a person begins to think about himself the same way. At this moment, compensation is activated, encouraging one to fight against imaginary inferiority.

Compensation is also considered to be the inability to adequately perceive oneself as a person with shortcomings (real or imagined). Unable to accept them, a person tries to either get rid of them or make them his advantages.

On the one hand, it may seem that compensation really helps. But on the other hand, it forces a person to live the way society wants, and not he himself. Everything is fine as long as he masks or compensates for his shortcomings and inferiority. But as soon as they come out, a lot of tension arises.

The essence of compensatory behavior in management

Management psychology, as a branch of practical psychology, studies the laws of management psychology, which manifest themselves in interaction, in interpersonal relationships and in group communication and act like any law. Personnel management should be based on principles such as methodicality and psychology [1, p. 4]. In philosophy, development is characterized as “an irreversible, directed, natural change in material and ideal objects” [3, P. 561]. The consequence of these changes is a qualitatively new state of the object. Likewise, compensatory changes in personality become the result of development.

If a person develops a quality or trait that was initially well developed in him, this is called compensation. Compensation is divided into direct and indirect. Direct compensation is a process in which a person strives for success in an area where he feels a certain uncertainty and lack. Indirect compensation suggests that success is achieved in a different, new area. The use of the law of compensation is characteristic of an adult and mature person. This type of psychological defense is most common in a professional environment: compensatory behavior is characteristic of people who are aimed at achieving a specific status. Status is one of the needs of the individual, because a person’s work in production is multi-motivated, and a person strives to satisfy not only his economic needs at work [2, pp. 297-309].

The purpose of compensatory behavior is to help the individual maintain self-esteem at a normal level. To achieve this, you should learn to switch your attention from a lack or negative experience to already developed qualities, to experiences that evoke associations with positive emotions. If the compensatory mechanism is very well developed, even negative experiences can motivate a person to self-development, a multifaceted process of personality formation.

Nathan Rothschild once said: “Whoever controls the information controls the world.” Already now you have everything to start: information, faith, action. Be firmly confident in your capabilities and get results. Be yourself, that is, an individual: manage events, use your capabilities. Avoid useless criticism of yourself and others. Understand what values ​​are significant to you and defend them. Write down the goals you set for yourself. Act in the present tense, observing the seven principles of success: 1) do not be afraid to do the right thing; 2) rely on yourself: 3) be honest; 4) listen to reason; 5) remain calm; 6) do not focus on the mistakes of others; 7) Make success your strategy.

Examples of compensation

The simplest and most understandable example of compensation is connected, no matter how funny it may sound, with food. When a person does not consume certain foods, for example, while on a diet, the body demands to replace them with something else, something that contains the nutrients it needs. So, if you really want ice cream, you lack calcium and tryptophan. You can get them from chicken, rabbit or turkey. An irresistible desire to eat chocolate indicates a magnesium deficiency. You can replenish it with buckwheat, pine nuts, and lettuce.

Let's move on to examples related to people. Imagine a skinny teenage boy. People laugh at him because of his appearance. But he doesn't rush to the gym to pump up. Instead, he does what he does best: play chess. And he will definitely achieve success in this direction. But physical defects will still remind you of themselves, which will ultimately lead to the development of neuroses.

Let's take the same frail teenager. In the previous example we were talking about compensation. If overcompensation turns on, he will direct all his strength to eliminate the deficiency, will intensively engage in sports, wrestling, in order to then take revenge on those who teased and offended him.

Compensation is cases when, instead of establishing relationships with others, a person gets a dog. Having a pet is, of course, good. But if you communicate only with him, then over time you can lose your communication skills with people and end up alone.

Another example of compensation is career. It replaces family, entertainment, and friends. There is some benefit to this. A person achieves success and recognition in society. But look from the other side. Over time, the body of workaholics simply gets tired. And no job or career will give you a feeling of real happiness.