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Defensiveness in Communication

When you feel your presenting self being attacked, you attempt to resolve the dissonance this creates by using defence mechanisms. Self-protection can take many forms:

  • Attacking the critic - counterattacking as an offensive manoeuvre.
    • Verbal aggression
    • Sarcasm
  • Distorting critical information in a way that leaves the presenting self in tact.
    • Rationalization
    • Compensation
    • Regression
  • Avoiding dissonant information altogether.
    • Physical avoidance
    • Repression
    • Apathy
    • Displacement

Rationalization Reader for Students

Situation: What Is Said:
When the course is offered in lecture format: We never get a chance to say anything.
When the course is offered in discussion format: The professor just sits there. We're not paid to teach the course.
When all aspects of the course are covered in class:

All she does is follow the text.
When you're responsible for covering part of the course outside class: She never covers half the things we're tested on.
When you're given objective tests: They don't allow for any individuality.
When you're given essay tests: They're too vague. WE never know what's expected.
When the instructor gives no tests: It isn't fair! She can't tell how much we really know.


(Adler, Proctor, Towne & Rolls, 2008)