Definition.
Compensation is the tendency of the unconscious psyche to counter-balance one-sidedness in the conscious, egoic life. Such one-sidedness may manifest as an overemphasis on a particular facet of living, such as work, or it may reflect over-reliance on a particular coping strategy, such as aggression or codependency. When such one-sidedness occurs, dream images and other unconscious productions may offer images highlighting a need for greater balance.