Defensiveness

Defensiveness is being too sensitive to a comment, statement, or question which is perceived as a major criticism. For instance, when someone says “My phone is missing! Have you seen it?”, a person who is being defensive would say, “Hey! I didn’t take it! I am not a thief!” Also, an individual who displays defensiveness is a person who is easily hurt and assumes that he is being attacked; hence, he tries to protect himself by emotionally rationalizing his actions, explaining why it is not his fault, or simply distancing himself.