What is the mean of defensive?

(Entry 1 of 2) 1 : serving to defend or protect defensive fortifications. 2a : devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack defensive behavior He became defensive when I brought up his spending habits.

What are defensive words?

synonyms for defensive

• opposing.
• conservative.
• foiling.
• preservative.
• thwarting.
• arresting.
• resistive.
• uptight.

What is considered defensive behavior?

Defensive behaviors are a group of evolved responses to threat. They include flight, freezing, defensive threat, defensive attack, and risk assessment. The type of defensive behavior elicited in a particular situation depends on features of both the threat and the situation.

What is an example of a defensive behavior?

People who are acting defensively are essentially trying to protect themselves from feeling a certain uncomfortable way, and from viewing themselves as a failure or otherwise in a negative light. In this light, all of your examples are potentially reasonable examples of defensive behavior.

Why do people get defensive?

Research has shown that defensiveness in response to wrongdoing is exacerbated by making the wrong doer feel like they’re an outcast. Defensive behaviours are common responses when people feel personally attacked but can undermine our ability to identify problems and find solutions.

Can you be defensive of someone?

Defending something or someone is protecting them. A country can take military action to defend itself. Or parents might defend their child against danger. When you’re being defensive in a psychological sense, you’re often attempting to defend yourself from someone or something important to you.

Why is being defensive bad?

Rather than preventing you from aggression or attack, defensive behaviors can create animosity or distrust towards you that may not have been there before. This can lead to a vicious cycle of defending, frustrating, guarding against future frustration, and causing more bad feelings.

What causes defensive behavior?

The Causes of Defensiveness People react defensively because they anticipate or perceive a threat in their environment, not usually because they’re just wanting to be difficult. Unfortunately, defensive behavior creates a reciprocal cycle.

Does being defensive mean your guilty?

When a person is defensive, that means that person wants to defend his or her position. It is definitely not a sign of guilt. When a person is defensive, that means that person wants to defend his or her position. It is definitely not a sign of guilt.

Why is someone so defensive?

When someone is embarrassed by what another person says or does, they may respond defensively. Embarrassment often occurs because of incorrect beliefs someone may have about themselves such as worthlessness, fear of abandonment, failure, or scarcity of positives in their lives.

Does being defensive indicate guilt?

When a person is defensive, that means that person wants to defend his or her position. It is definitely not a sign of guilt. When a person is defensive, that means that person wants to defend his or her position.

What makes someone defensive?

If you lack the skills to communicate in an assertive way, or feel anxious socially, this might translate into defensive behavior. A reaction to shame or guilt. If you are feeling guilty about something and someone else brings up a related topic, then you might respond in a defensive manner.

What is the meaning of defensive?

Definition of defensive. (Entry 1 of 2) 1 : serving to defend or protect defensive fortifications. 2a : devoted to resisting or preventing aggression or attack defensive behavior He became defensive when I brought up his spending habits.

What does it mean to be defensive?

Use defensive in a sentence. adjective. The definition of defensive is something designed to protect or secure, or being quick to defend against criticism or anticipating criticism or complaint. When a country builds up its army in preparation for an attack to secure its borders, this is an example of when it takes a defensive position.

What does being on the defensive mean?

Definition of ‘on the defensive’. on the defensive. phrase. If someone is on the defensive, they are trying to protect themselves or their interests because they feel unsure or threatened. The administration has been on the defensive about the war.

What does defensive measure mean?

Noun. 1. defensive measure – (military) military action or resources protecting a country against potential enemies; “they died in the defense of Stalingrad”; “they were developed for the defense program”. defense, defence.