Defensive communication is the pattern that arises when people perceive threat in an interaction and shift energy from the task to self-protection. Evaluative, controlling, or superior messages tend to provoke it. It differs from disagreement, which can remain calm and task-focused.
- Entry typeKey concept
What these mean
Editorial orientation · Entry type
Key concept
Key concepts are the working vocabulary of the field: the terms that the models and tools rely on and that a decision about communication has to use precisely. Each entry defines the term and sends you to the brief or the self-guided audit where it is put to work.