Defensiveness is a learned behavior to compensate for something going on beneath the surface.
A few common sources of defensiveness in relationship:
- A lack of feeling emotionally safe because they often feel invalidated
- Taking something personally (and making it mean something different than what was said)
- Fear of being judged, not loved, abandoned, or punished
- An attachment to a certain perspective about themselves or the situation
Here's the thing...if you and your partner perpetually react with defensiveness, you will leave conversations unresolved, build up more and more tension, and/or get to the point where you feel like you're walking on eggshells.
So today's podcast episode goes deeper into understanding why defensiveness shows up in your relationship PLUS how to break this pattern, so you communicate openly and constructively.
Resources For Your Relationship:
- Book a private Couples Session with us. The first one is discounted so you can get a sense that our style WORKS! Read testimonials, details, and schedule one here.
- Read our newest book, The Argument Hangover. Get $200 of bonus resources, including a course and workbook. HERE
About Us:
We're The Freemans, your go-to couple for authentic and actionable relationship advice. Send us your relationship questions for the show with a DM on Instagram. As you listen to the episode, tag us on an IG story and let us know what you loved.
Please leave a Review of the Show if you have not, it helps us reach even more couples!
Popular Podcasts
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.