Clinical identification of compensatory structures on projective tests: A self psychological approach

In this article I discuss compensatory structure, a concept from Kohut's (1 971, 1977) psychology of the self that is not as familiar as Kohut's other views about the self. Compensatory structures are attempts to repair selfob ject failure, usually by strengthening idealization or twinship in the face of mirroring deficits. Compensatory structures, particularly their early i ndications, can be detected on projective tests for identifying adaptive re sources and treatment potential. The clinical identification of compensator y structures on test findings is described using Rorschach and Thematic App erception Test (Murray, 1943) content. Particular attention is devoted to t he 2-part process of demonstrating first, an injury to the self, and second , how attempts to recover from such injuries can be detected on projective tests. Clinical examples are provided, and the differentiation between comp ensatory structures and defenses and sublimation is discussed.