PsychologyAugust 16, 2026

overcompensating

oh-ver-KOM-pen-say-ting

Definition

To try to make up for a perceived deficiency or anxiety by providing excessive amounts of help or control, often to the detriment of the other person's autonomy.

Etymology

Derived from the prefix 'over-' combined with 'compensate,' which originates from the Latin 'compensare,' meaning to weigh against or balance.

In the news

The article warns that adult children often inadvertently reduce their parents' independence by overcompensating for the parents' age-related struggles.

Studies Link Social Support and Psychology to Healthy Parental Ageing

Read the full article ↗

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