COMPENSATION is the tendency of an organism to make up for deficiencies of structure or function. For example, heart may become enlarged in order to perform its function more satisfactorily if there is an initial impairment; or if one eye is injured the other eye may function more efficiently than originally.

补偿是有机体弥补结构或功能缺陷的倾向。例如，如果有初始的损伤，为更满意地发挥其功能，心脏可能会变大；又或，如果一只眼睛受伤，另一个眼睛可能比原来的功能更有效。

The idea of compensation was discussed by Alfred Adler in a 1907 publication. Sigmund Freud considered Adler’s paper very important, and the notion of certain kinds of behavior representing compensations for deficiencies in other behavior became widely accepted. Adler further theorized that a child has feelings of weakness and insignificance in relation to adults who are larger, stronger, and more competent. Adler later saw neurotic symptoms as compensations for lack of self-esteem. He held that many neurotic symptoms represented attempts to make up for feelings of inadequacy or inferiority.

阿尔弗雷德·阿德勒在1907年的出版物中讨论了补偿的概念。西格蒙德·弗洛伊德认为阿德勒的论文非常重要，而且某些行为类型表现了对其它行为缺陷补偿的概念已被广泛接受。阿德勒进一步将其理论化，即与那些更大、更强壮和更有能力的成年人相比，孩子有一种软弱和渺小的感觉。后来阿德勒将神经过敏症视为缺乏自尊的补偿。他认为，许多神经过敏症表现了弥补不足或自卑感的尝试。

The notion of compensation is sometimes regarded as an elaboration of the physiological of homeostasis, which holds that the organism maintains an optimal equilibrium in its functions. Living organisms exhibit a tendency to master or compensate for internal defects. Adler extended this notion to the realm of psychological functioning, especially as related to personality. The mechanism of compensation is a defense against feelings of inferiority that grow out of real or imagined personal defects or weaknesses. The need to compensate does not usually come as the result of a single failure or frustration, but occurs after a recurring chain of thwarting and frustration. Compensation is the overemphasis of one type of behavior in order to hide or defend against deficiencies the individual feels in other areas of behavior.

补偿的概念有时也被认为是对体内平衡的生理阐述，它认为，有机体在其功能中维持了一种最佳的平衡。生物体展示了一种控制或补偿内部缺陷的倾向。阿德勒将这一概念延伸到心理功能领域，尤其是与个性有关的领域。补偿机制是一种针对自卑感的防御，即脱离现实或想象个人的缺陷或弱点。补偿的需要通常不是单一的失败或沮丧结果产生的，而是在一连串反复出现的阻碍和失败之后发生的。补偿是对一种行为的过分强调，以隐藏或防御个体在其它行为领域感觉的缺陷。

People often compensate by developing the function associated with an impaired body part. This type of compensation is common among individuals who are not neurotic. For example, Demosthenes, who was a stutterer, became a great orator; Theodore Roosevelt, a childhood weakling, became a rough and robust adult; Lord Byron, who had a clubfoot, became an expert swimmer.

人们常常通过发展与受损的身体部位相关的功能来进行补偿。这种补偿形式在非神经过敏的个体中很常见。例如，德摩斯梯尼，一位口吃者，却成为了一位伟大的雄辩家；西奥多·罗斯福，一位孩童时期软弱的人，变成了一个粗壮的成年人；拜伦勋爵有一只畸形足，却成为了一名游泳专家。

                          AUSTIN E. GRIGG, University of Richmond

                             奥斯丁 E. 格里格，里奇蒙大学

                                                                  2023年10月17日译

（译者注：该词条位列《大美百科全书》1985年版，第7卷，第458页）