Final answer:
Compensation is the defense mechanism where individuals emphasize positive traits to counterbalance perceived negative ones, often used to mask insecurities.
Step-by-step explanation:
The defense mechanism that involves overemphasizing a positive trait to compensate for a perceived negative one is known as compensation. This mechanism serves as a way for individuals to mask or make up for their perceived weaknesses or insecurities by highlighting or developing other abilities or traits. An example might be a student who struggles academically may put extra effort into excelling in sports or another extracurricular activity to balance out and distract from their academic challenges.