User:Madison.Kinsey/Defensive communication

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Defensive communication is a communicative behavior that occurs within relationships, work environments, and social groups when an individual reacts in a defensive manner in response to self perceived flaw, sensitivity to a flaw, and an attack by another person. Defensive responses can be triggered by external events and feelings of insecurity, issue that is seen in another individual, and sensitivity [1 ]. Defensive communication often occurs when an individual feels threatened or concerned from others and they react in an aggressive manner.Sigmund Freud was one of the first scientists to research the subject of defensive communication in depth, during his development of psychodynamic theory. Defensiveness creates inefficient and damaging communication in social interactions when people deny their flaws, project their flaws on others, or use judgmental communication techniques [2].

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Gibb's supportive and defensive communication theory is states that defensive behaviors occur when an individual feels threatened during communication and feel necessary to defend themselves. Jack Gibb was considered one of the first scholars to examine specific communication behaviors [5 ]. Certain defensive communication conversations may seem normal but on the inside of the individual they are angry and threatened [5 ]. The more defensive an individual gets in a conversation, the less likely they are to show motivation behind what they are talking about [5 ]. When persuasion comes into conversations it can add resistance which causes a shift in the climate of the direction of defense [4 ]. When people get defensive, they just start saying random things and get side tracked from the point they are trying to prove.

Defensiveness in parenting is caused when parents feel threatened when their kid speaks up on their emotions in certain situations. Parents are quick to shut down their kids feelings when they do not agree with what they are saying. Defensive parenting does not allow for growth of the parent or kid. Growing is apart of kids lives but that cannot happen if parents are defensive when they express their own ideas. Defensive communication in parenting can have an impact on discrepancy and dyadic adjustment in the kids [3 ]. Videotaping, sex of child, and role of disciplinary are common factors that contribute to how defensive parents get in certain situations [3. ]

Defensive communication in the workplace is can be caused depending on who the leader is and burnout. Burnout is a reoccurring situation that contains to happen in every workplace [1 ]. Defensive communication leads to higher numbers of burnout. Leaders in workplaces have an important role in creating a community with coworkers. If there is defensive communication, coworkers are not going to respond and get defensive which can lead to no one getting along. The higher the defensive communication is, the lower respect workers have for their leaders [1 ].