MEN ARE HAUNTED BY A CHRONIC SENSE OF INADEQUACY (terry Real)
Defensiveness is defined as being overly sensitive to or reacting very strongly to perceived criticism by your partner.
Examples:
Defensive partners are not psychologically open people – at least not in their relationship with you. They often live in their own private bubble and find that much energy is spent protecting themselves from you. Rather than being open to influence (which often means change) and honest feedback, they put up an emotional “force field” to keep you out.
Often an overly defensive partners will create you into a liar as you learn what to say or what to do so as not to upset them, rather than feeling sufficiently comfortable to reveal what you really think or feel about a situation.