overcompensations
Going too far
Overcompensations are excessive efforts to make up for a real or perceived weakness, deficiency, or failing.
The term often carries psychological weight—someone might develop an aggressive personality as overcompensation for feelings of inadequacy, or lavish gifts on children as overcompensation for being absent.
His constant bragging seemed like overcompensation for deep insecurity.
Resistance to perceived attack
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- inferiorityLower status or quality
- projectionSomething that extends outward
denial · anxiety · self-doubt · ego · bravado · overconfidence · machismo · narcissism
Excessive effort or action
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- excessSurplus beyond need
- overkillUnnecessary additional effort
- overreactionDisproportionate emotional response
overcorrection · extremes · overperformance · overachievement · overworking · overspending · overindulgence · overprotection
Alteration to improve fit
- redressCompensation for injury
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
- amendsCompensation for wrongdoing
rebalancing · rectification · counterbalance · offset · remediation · indemnification · damages · settlement
Statement acknowledging wrongdoing
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- remorseGuilt for wrongdoing
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- penanceSelf-mortification for wrongdoing
contrition · grand gestures · groveling · overexplaining · oversharing · clinginess · love-bombing · fawning
Earnest sustained endeavor
- overexertionHarmful excess of effort
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
- grindCrush into particles
burnout · overpreparing · overthinking · overanalyzing · overplanning · obsessiveness · meticulousness · perfectionism
defensiveness
Resistance to perceived attack
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
- inadequacyState of being insufficient
- inferiorityLower status or quality
projection · denial · anxiety · self-doubt · ego · bravado · overconfidence · machismo · narcissism · perfectionism
overdoing
Excessive effort or action
- exaggerationOverstating beyond reality
- excessSurplus beyond need
- overkillUnnecessary additional effort
overreaction · overcorrection · extremes · overperformance · overachievement · overworking · overspending · overindulgence · overprotection · overpraising
adjustment
Alteration to improve fit
- redressCompensation for injury
- reparationCompensation for injury done
- restitutionRestoring what was lost
amends · rebalancing · rectification · counterbalance · offset · remediation · indemnification · damages · settlement · payout
apology
Statement acknowledging wrongdoing
penance · contrition · grand gestures · groveling · overexplaining · oversharing · clinginess · love-bombing · fawning · supplication
striving
Earnest sustained endeavor
- overexertionHarmful excess of effort
- overworkToil to exhaustion
- hustleEnergetic, aggressive action
grind · burnout · overpreparing · overthinking · overanalyzing · overplanning · obsessiveness · meticulousness · perfectionism · overcommitment
overcompensationsundercompensation
Inadequate remuneration for work
underreactions · half-measures · neglect · falling short · inaction
overcompensationsself-acceptance
Approval of oneself
equanimity · acceptance · complacency · resignation · groundedness