Karson's parents always told him he was stupid, and he developed a fear of appearing stupid to other people. Thus, Karson works very hard at school and is excited when he is accepted to graduate school in a highly regarded doctoral program. According to Freud, Karson's hard work in school is an example of the __________ defense mechanism.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Compensation is a defense mechanism where an individual overcomes feelings of inferiority or inadequacy by excelling in other areas. Karson's hard work in school to counteract feelings of being "stupid" is an example of compensation.

Karson's Parents Always Told Him He Was Stupid, and He