I-D compensation theory: Some implications of trying to satisfy immediate-return needs in a delayed-return culture

Abstract

According to 1-D compensation theory, the occurrence of several social psychological phenomena (e.g., ego-defense, terror management) is moderated by the status of a person's relationship with the environment. More specifically, the theory proposes that individuals function optimally when they receive frequent feedback that they are progressing toward their goals and that their efforts will pay off. When individuals do not receive this feedback, they increase their reliance on mental processes such as simulation and problem solving. Although reliance on these processes may help individuals return to progress toward their goals, it also makes individuals especially vulnerable to the effects of various social psychological motives (e.g., ego-defense, terror management). From this perspective, certain phenomena thought to reflect basic motivations may actually be the product of context-dependent person-environment interactions.