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| This White Paper analyses the main reasons for defensive behaviour, and offers some guidelines for dealing with it. It also investigates the phenomenon of “emotional hijack”. |
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Handling defensive behaviour
When we perceive a threat – real or imagined – to our well-being or position, we tend to respond in a defensive manner. This defensive response pattern can take many forms, but the overall effect is to prepare us to fight, freeze or flee the threatening situation in order to protect ourselves.
Physically, emotionally and intellectually, we are in an aroused state that is concerned with self-protection and defending. We will call this “red zone” behaviour. It is not likely to be a place of collaboration, trust-building, mutual problem-solving or deeper self-reflection and shared accountability.
On the other hand, when we are feeling physically relaxed, safe, alive and emotionally significant, competent and likeable, then we are not likely to behave rigidly or defensively. We are able to be intellectually open and honest and to consciously operate in a non-defensive, cooperative, problem-solving, accountable state that we shall refer to as the “green zone”.
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