Maggie is having a really hard time at work,and she may be at risk of losing her job when the new budget is announced.Instead of improving her skills at work,Maggie goes to the gym every day after work,and completes a gruelling workout.Her personal trainer is incredibly impressed with Maggie's progress and she gets a lot of compliments on her very toned body.Which defence mechanism does this example illustrate

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Overcompensation is a defense mechanism in which an individual focuses on developing or exaggerating certain qualities, skills, or behaviors to compensate for feelings of inferiority or failure in other areas. In this case, Maggie is overcompensating for her poor performance at work by focusing on her physical fitness and gaining validation from her trainer and others for her toned body.

Maggie Is Having a Really Hard Time at Work,and She