overcompensationn.
/ˌəʊvəˌkɒmp(ə)nˈseɪʃn/, /ˌəʊvəˌkɒmpɛnˈseɪʃn/, U.S. /ˈˌoʊvərˌkɑmp(ə)nˈseɪʃ(ə)n/ Excessive compensation; excessive allowance or amends for something; overcorrection; (Psychology) an exaggerated reaction by a person to what is felt as a weakness or defect in his or her character.
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the world > relative properties > relationship > equality or equivalence > [noun] > compensation > overcompensation
overcompensation1839
the mind > mental capacity > psychology > theory of psychoanalysis > theories of Adler > [noun] > exaggerated response
overcompensation1839
1839 E. J. Dent in Rep. Brit. Assoc. Aug. 28 A mean daily rate [of a clock]..corrected for and intentional over-compensation.
1861 J. F. W. Herschel Outl. Astron. (new ed.) 413 From this time every succeeding cycle will destroy some portion of that over-compensation, until a complete revolution of the sun in excess shall be accomplished.
1890 Proc. Royal Soc. 1889 46 282 When the compensating coil had been adjusted to balance the first effect of a step-up, it was found to give over-compensation for a step-down.
1955 T. H. Pear Eng. Social Differences vi. 138 Theories of compensation and over-compensation for inferiority-complexes.
1977 D. Clark Gimmel Flask vi. 106 Her over-compensation in over-spending may be due to her disappointment.
1991 Amer. Horticulturist Sept. 24/3 Eitzman..found that morning glories damaged moderately by tortoise beetles and a leaf miner showed what he calls an ‘overcompensation phenomenon’. They grew larger, flowered longer, [etc.].
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2004; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1839