We are all pros at getting defensive. And when we are faced with criticism, we also react predictably. We get tense. Our voices rise in volume. We get ready to rumble. Getting defensive is us trying to protect our character and our sense of competence. It is also us sabotaging ourselves at school, at work and at home. But it doesn’t have to be that way. We can overcome defensiveness.
According to Psychology Today:
There are lots of ways we get defensive: we distance ourselves from our mistakes, blame outside forces for failure, and judge others in order to continue seeing ourselves in a positive light. Or we drink or otherwise self-medicate to cope with threats to our self-image and self-esteem. The only problem? Getting defensive with friends, your boss, your partner, and yourself often backfires. It pushes people away, makes us look immature, and sends a message that we’re unable to regulate our emotions. In the moment, getting defensive can feel like the only way to cope with threat. But in the long term, it undermines us and our relationships. When we lash out, we dig ourselves deeper.”
Defensiveness is not just human nature, it is natural to many living things. But we humans are capable of overriding out instinct to react to things defensively. If you are ready to find ways to overcome defensiveness This is the quiz for you.
Instructions for the 12 Question Quiz: How to Explain and Overcome Defensiveness
This true/false quiz intends to test your knowledge about defensiveness and also to provide helpful information in a concise and entertaining way. In fact, Life Coaching With a Smile developed this kind of original “InfoQuiz”. The test consists of 12 statements. First, to begin the quiz click the START QUIZ button below. Then please respond to each statement by answering “TRUE” or “FALSE”. (If you do not answer all 12 questions your results will not be meaningful.) The correct answer, along with additional information, will pop up immediately after you answer a question. When you are ready to move to the following question click on the NEXT button. Later, after answering all 12 questions, click the SUBMIT button to display your score. Enjoy the quiz. No matter what happens, don’t get all defensive.
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