Psychological compensation: A theoretical framework.

Abstract

The 2 main objectives of this article are to review a variety of literatures in which the concept of compensation is used and to integrate the results of this review into a general framework of compensation. The review focuses on 4 domains of psychological inquiry: compensation for sensory handicaps, cognitive deficits, interpersonal losses, and brain injury. In the proposed framework, underlying dimensions and 4 basic steps in the progression of compensatory behavior are distinguished. The latter include origins, mechanisms, forms, and consequences. Finally, we describe ways in which researchers in particular domains can benefit from the global, process-oriented framework we propose. For most of the areas of compensation research reviewed, investigators can profit from a consideration of a broader selection of dimensions, additional steps in the process, alternative outcomes, and both objective and subjective assessment procedures.

Cites (143)

1. “Stress: appraisal and coping,”
   Folkman, Susan · 2013 · Encyclopedia of Behavioral Medicine
2. The principles of psychology.
   James, William · 1913 · Henry Holt and Company eBooks
3. Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. B
   HighWire Press · 1886
4. Controlled and automatic human information processing: II. Perceptual learning, automatic attending, and a general theory
   Shiffrin, Richard M., Schneider, Walter · 1977 · Psychological Review
5. The Biological Foundations of Language
   Lenneberg, Eric H. · 1967 · Hospital Practice
6. Protocol Analysis: Verbal Reports as Data
   Venkatesan, M., Ericsson, K. Anders, Simon, Herbert A. · 1986 · Journal of Marketing Research
7. Psychological perspectives on successful aging: The model of selective optimization with compensation
   Baltes, Paul B., Baltes, Margret M. · 1990 · Successful Aging
8. Handbook of the Psychology of Aging
   2016 · Elsevier eBooks
9. Theoretical Models and Processes of Reading
   Barnett, Marva A., Singer, Harry, Ruddell, Robert B. · 1987 · The Modern Language Journal
10. Higher cortical functions in man
    A. R. Lurii︠a︡, Hans‐Lukas Teuber, Karl H. Pribram, Basil Haigh · 1966 · Basic Books

Show all 143 references

Cited by (28)

1. Hemispheric asymmetry reduction in older adults: the HAROLD model
   Cabeza, Roberto · 2002 · Psychology and Aging
2. On the incomplete architecture of human ontogeny: Selection, optimization, and compensation as foundation of developmental theory
   Baltes, Paul B. · 1997 · American Psychologist
3. Enrichment Effects on Adult Cognitive Development: Can the Functional Capacity of Older Adults Be Preserved and Enhanced?
   Hertzog, Christopher, Kramer, Arthur F., Wilson, Robert S., Lindenberger, Ulman · 2008 · Psychological Science in the Public Interest
4. A motivational theory of life-span development.
   Heckhausen, Jutta, Wrosch, Carsten, Schulz, Richard · 2010 · Psychological Review
5. Education and cognitive functioning across the life span
   Lövdén, Martin, Fratiglioni, Laura, Glymour, M. Maria, Lindenberger, Ulman, Tucker-Drob, Elliot M. · 2020 · Psychological Science in the Public Interest

See all 398