30 Signs Clear As Day That People Are Just Overcompensating

A few days ago, a post appeared in the AskReddit community, the author of which, the user u/Xenomorphling98, asked the question: "What screams 'I’m overcompensating' whenever you see it?" It must be said that the question was clearly relevant, so in two days, the resulting thread boasts more than 3.2K upvotes and over 2.1K various comments.

Big cars and a huge sense of self-importance, aggressive arrogant behavior and desperate attempts to look better, stronger and more beautiful than a person actually is - and dozens and dozens of other subtle signs - welcome to this list of people's views, made for you by Bored Panda!

Let's start with an important caveat: no matter how funny, provocative or gross people with overcompensation may seem to us, this is first and foremost a defense mechanism of our consciousness. Well, to be more precise, even the subconscious. In other words, if a person has some kind of mental complex - real or imaginary - then as a defensive reaction they can develop overcompensation.

Usually, such things manifest themselves in a negative way. For example, a person compensates for their own shyness by being too talkative, their lack of self-confidence by being overly aggressive, and their fear of building relationships by being too promiscuous towards other people. So here is the key wording: "towards other people."

In fact, if overcompensation were directed exclusively inward for the human, "I," there would most likely be no problem. But when directed inward, it often becomes a motivator for positive changes in life. For example, a student who wasn't admitted to the college of their dreams begins to study hard and becomes an outstanding scientist - let's say, in spite of everything.

Such kinds of overcompensation actually look quite healthy, however, when directed outward, it's usually characterized by three main factors of human behavior: egocentrism, arrogance, and bragging. As a result of these factors, a person often forms a social circle consisting almost exclusively of people who let them assert themselves.

It's just that only in the circle of these people can a person suffering from overcompensation feel really comfortable. Well, the thought that they're actually asserting themselves not at their own expense, but at someone else's, either doesn't occur to them at all, or the aforementioned egocentrism and arrogance quickly drive such thoughts away.

How exactly is the habit of overcompensation formed? Often in childhood, when a combination of various factors: family, social and physical can cause a child to have various complexes about themselves. Very often this can be bullying from peers, unhealthy relationships in the family, or overprotection from parents.

By the way, often the key factor that triggers the overcompensation mechanism in a person is someone close to them, or a person whose opinion they consider authoritative for themselves.

One of the parents or relatives, a teacher, an informal leader of a school group, an older friend, a life partner - sometimes one careless remark is quite enough for a person to feel "inferior" and try to compensate for it through all available means.

Usually, overcompensation can be dealt with - but for this you need, firstly, desire, secondly, hard will, and thirdly, ideally - the help of a good psychoanalyst. But, first of all, it's the first two factors, because recognizing the need for therapy for a person prone to overcompensation actually means admitting to having a complex. But this is often the most painful thing for them.

In other words, if you, having read this entire selection to the very end, suddenly realized that someone you know, or maybe you, yourself, are subject to overcompensation - perhaps this will become an important step towards solving a serious mental problem. Willpower and therapy can work wonders - and sometimes it can really improve someone's life.

Well, if this list is missing some of the signs that you consider to be characteristic of overcompensating people - then please feel free to share your ideas in the comments below this post as well. After all, your personal experience and opinion can also be very useful for others.