Defensiveness is a maladaptive defense mechanism in response to someone giving you feedback that you perceive as critical. There is an overwhelming urge to protect yourself when you feel hurt, shame, ...

What if the deeper issue was not knowing how to recognize and work with the emotions underneath defensiveness? When we relate ...

You always do this; start gaslighting me. You’re the one who starts the name-calling! But you…. The fact that Allie and Jack are arguing over who is being defensive means they both are. What started ...

Add Yahoo as a preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Ever heard your partner say something in their defense that you wish they had taken back? Or perhaps there was a time you reacted ...

This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more. If your responses in a disagreement with your partner aren’t aiding resolution, they’re ...

“When you show deep empathy toward others, their defensive energy goes down, and positive energy replaces it,” Stephen Covey recommends. Empathy is a useful reminder when tapping into healthier ...

Ever heard your partner say something in their defense that you wish they had taken back? Or perhaps there was a time you reacted defensively, spurred by the heat of the moment. In a relationship, it ...