defensiveness
Self-shielding emotional stance
Defensiveness is a guarded reaction to perceived criticism or threat, characterized by self-justification rather than openness.
Someone displaying defensiveness deflects blame, makes excuses, or counterattacks instead of listening: His defensiveness made it impossible to have an honest conversation about the problem.
The trait often signals insecurity or unwillingness to acknowledge fault.
Refusal to accept reality
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- justificationReason proving rightness
- excuse-makingExplaining away fault
rationalization · blame-shifting · counterattack · stonewalling · withdrawal · avoidance · dismissiveness · minimizing
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- territorialityDefense of claimed space
- possessivenessExcessive attachment to ownership
walls · hostility · resentment · antagonism · guardedness · withholding · closed-off · untrusting
Wary and restrained
- reactiveTending to respond
- bristlingStanding stiffly outward
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
- insecurityUncertainty about oneself
vulnerability · self-doubt · anxiety · wounded · prickly · touchy · thin-skinned · hypervigilant
Formal response disputing claims
- retortQuick, cutting reply
- counterargumentPoint challenging another's position
- justificationReason proving rightness
- excuseOffered reason for wrongdoing
denial · objection · refutation · comeback · rejoinder · rationalization · explanation · protest
denial
Refusal to accept reality
- deflectionChange in trajectory
- evasionAct of escaping detection
- justificationReason proving rightness
excuse-making · rationalization · blame-shifting · counterattack · stonewalling · withdrawal · avoidance · dismissiveness · minimizing · projection
distrust
Absence of confidence
- suspicionSense of unease about motives
- jealousyResentful desire for another's advantages
- territorialityDefense of claimed space
possessiveness · walls · hostility · resentment · antagonism · guardedness · withholding · closed-off · untrusting · hypervigilance
guarded
Wary and restrained
- reactiveTending to respond
- bristlingStanding stiffly outward
- sensitivityResponsiveness to stimuli
insecurity · vulnerability · self-doubt · anxiety · wounded · prickly · touchy · thin-skinned · hypervigilant · wariness
rebuttal
Formal response disputing claims
- retortQuick, cutting reply
- counterargumentPoint challenging another's position
- justificationReason proving rightness
excuse · denial · objection · refutation · comeback · rejoinder · rationalization · explanation · protest · contradiction
posture
Body position, alignment
recoiling · bracing · stiffening · hunching · shrinking · guarding
- behavioral cuesbody language, facial expression, eye contact, posture, gestures
- protectivenessguarding, shielding, sheltering, protector, guardian
- red flagsred flags, warning signs, warning, caution, alarm
- addiction signscravings, dependence, withdrawal, compulsion, relapse
- couples therapymarriage counseling, couples therapy, couples counseling, therapist, counselor
- defense mechanismsdenial, projection, repression, suppression, displacement
defensivenessopenness
Quality of being accessible
receptivity · receptiveness · open-mindedness · approachability · teachability
defensivenessvulnerability
Openness to harm
openness · openheartedness · unguardedness · transparency · candor
defensivenessaccountability
Obligation for one's actions
self-criticism · acknowledgment · humility · ownership · taking responsibility
defend, defense, defender, defensive, defenses, defensible, indefensible, defensively, self-defense