Abstract
An effort was made to replicate the results of an experiment by Holmes which demonstrated the operation of compensation, an important yet under-studied defense mechanism, as well as to provide data on the validity of the measure he used to study it. Compensatory behavior was elicited in that male subjects whose masculinity was threatened elected to perform more physical exercise demonstrating their strength than subjects who were not threatened. In addition, evidence was obtained suggesting that preference for exercise was an unbiased measure of compensatory behavior in this ego-threatening situation. Further research is suggested to determine under what conditions compensation so measured will occur.
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