overcompensation
Going too far
Overcompensation is doing too much to make up for a perceived weakness or deficiency.
Someone short might overcompensate by acting aggressively dominant.
A guilty parent might overcompensate with lavish gifts.
The word often carries a critical edge, suggesting the effort is excessive or misdirected: His sports car feels like overcompensation for something.
In psychology, overcompensation describes exaggerated behaviors masking insecurity.
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- reaction formationMasking impulses with opposites
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- sublimationSolid to gas directly
- displacementRemoval from usual location
denial · rationalization · repression · complex · neurosis · coping · unconscious · Freudian
Lower status or quality
- bravadoPretense of fearlessness
- blusterLoud, empty boasting
- swaggerConfident, boastful manner
- boastingExcessive self-praise
defensiveness · self-doubt · pompousness · posturing · showiness · ostentation · grandiosity · pretension
Compensation for wrongdoing
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
apology · remorse · reparation · contrition · self-reproach · making up for · mea culpa · repentance
Excessive corrective action
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- recalibrationAdjusting measurement standards again
- equilibriumState of balance
correction · offsetting · leveling · rebalancing · stabilization · realignment · evening out · course correction
Unnecessary additional effort
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- overcorrectionExcessive corrective action
- overextensionExceeding sustainable capacity
- overdoingExcessive effort or action
exaggeration · surplus · excessiveness · extravagance · overindulgence · immoderation · disproportion · overshoot
Exceeding expected results
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
- perfectionismCompulsive pursuit of flawlessness
overdrive · intensity · obsessiveness · workaholism · zealousness · overpreparing · overtraining · burnout
defense mechanism
Unconscious self-protective mental process
- reaction formationMasking impulses with opposites
- projectionSomething that extends outward
- sublimationSolid to gas directly
displacement · denial · rationalization · repression · complex · neurosis · coping · unconscious · Freudian · ego defense
inferiority
Lower status or quality
boasting · defensiveness · self-doubt · pompousness · posturing · showiness · ostentation · grandiosity · pretension · fragility
atonement
Compensation for wrongdoing
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
redemption · apology · remorse · reparation · contrition · self-reproach · making up for · mea culpa · repentance · absolution
overcorrection
Excessive corrective action
- counterbalanceOffsetting force or weight
- adjustmentAlteration to improve fit
- recalibrationAdjusting measurement standards again
equilibrium · correction · offsetting · leveling · rebalancing · stabilization · realignment · evening out · course correction
overkill
Unnecessary additional effort
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
- overcorrectionExcessive corrective action
- overextensionExceeding sustainable capacity
overdoing · exaggeration · surplus · excessiveness · extravagance · overindulgence · immoderation · disproportion · overshoot · overreach
overachievement
Exceeding expected results
- strivingEarnest sustained endeavor
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- hypervigilanceHeightened threat sensitivity
perfectionism · overdrive · intensity · obsessiveness · workaholism · zealousness · overpreparing · overtraining · burnout · exhaustion
- coping mechanismsrepression, denial, projection, sublimation, rationalization
- adjustment errorsovercorrection, miscalibration, wrong setting, misalignment, overtightening
- Adlerian psychologyinferiority complex, superiority complex, birth order, lifestyle, encouragement
- behaviorshabit, aggressive, agitation, conduct, passive
- responses to pressurepanic, calm, freeze, flight, fight
- overreactionsoverreaction, meltdown, tantrum, hissy fit, freakout
overcompensationundercompensation
Inadequate remuneration for work
measured response · moderation · equilibrium · proportionality · restraint
overcompensationself-acceptance
Approval of oneself
authenticity · equanimity · self-awareness · humility · groundedness