Compensation refers to defenses against feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.

Compensation refers to defenses against feelings of inferiority and inadequacy.

• A. Projection
• B. Denial
• C. Compensation
• D. Sublimation

Answer: (C)

Compensation is a defense mechanism where a person counteracts feelings of inferiority or inadequacy by emphasizing strengths or achieving in another area to boost self-esteem. When someone feels less capable in one domain, they focus energy on excelling in a different area, making them feel more competent overall. For example, feeling weak in sports might lead someone to devote themselves to academics or the arts, using these successes to counterbalance perceived shortcomings. This approach directly addresses the discomfort of inferiority by creating a sense of mastery somewhere, rather than denying the weakness or projecting it onto others. Denial would involve refusing to accept reality, projection would place one’s own unacceptable feelings onto someone else, and sublimation redirects impulses into socially acceptable outlets but doesn’t specifically target counteracting feelings of inadequacy in the same way compensation does.

Compensation is a defense mechanism where a person counteracts feelings of inferiority or inadequacy by emphasizing strengths or achieving in another area to boost self-esteem. When someone feels less capable in one domain, they focus energy on excelling in a different area, making them feel more competent overall. For example, feeling weak in sports might lead someone to devote themselves to academics or the arts, using these successes to counterbalance perceived shortcomings.

This approach directly addresses the discomfort of inferiority by creating a sense of mastery somewhere, rather than denying the weakness or projecting it onto others. Denial would involve refusing to accept reality, projection would place one’s own unacceptable feelings onto someone else, and sublimation redirects impulses into socially acceptable outlets but doesn’t specifically target counteracting feelings of inadequacy in the same way compensation does.