Why is that defensiveness is on the increase. Has positivity been overshadowed by negativity in today's?

[Lorry 5 Aussie Lilly]

society?
Are you quicker to be on the defence or do you NOT tend to think everyone is out to get you?
((((Hugs)))

[Jip]

i cant speak for other people but i mostly do have my guard up, but its because of my past experiences with people have been quite bad, and even to this day i still cant believe all the pain i've had to endure because of all the negativity and oppression i have been in my life, i have been mentally wounded which will take more than a lifetime to heal, so now i have been molded into a person who finds it hard to trust people, and be open with them. This among many other reasons is why a lot of people are more on the defence

[Nathanael]

Defensiveness has increased because insecurity has increased. The "why" could be attributed to many specific things, but, in general, I would say it's the result of the technological age we live in (things such as TV, social media, etc.).

I wouldn't consider it a matter of negativity versus positivity, though.

[Patrick_version2b]

I gather two questions here - why are cognitive distortions on the rise, and, am I personally the sort to be on the defensive or give otherss benefit of doubt?

Cognitive distortions include subcategories like "mind reading", when an individual walks into a room and suddenly "thinks" everyone who looks at him is thinking something nasty about him, with no shred of proof such is actually the case. Your "everyone is out to get me" falls into this "mind reading" category.

Attitude is a like pair of glasses - they filter how we perceive and interpret reality. I would argue that as hope gives way to pessimism, awe and wonder to cynicism, concern to indifference, enthusiasm to apathy, child-like innocence to savvy jadedness... of course on such cultural path more and more people will interpret everything from negative standpoint. In the simple aforementioned "mind reading" example, an enthusiastic exuberant optimist would interpret other people's glances as compliments - only to later in the evening, looking into the mirror, notice huge ketchup smear on his nose from an earlier hot-dog he ate, and even so, consistent with his "filtering attitude", would have a lighthearted laugh over his child-like presumptuousness... Now the same situation, but involving one with "negative filter", enters the room, interprets other's looks in some hostile or judgmental manner; gets home, and discovers nearly unnoticeable dill speck between his teeth - mind you, he never once smiled, so no one saw it, still, in his negative mindset would additionally feel horrible what a grotesque spectacle he presented himself to others by neglecting to remove the small speck of dill weed.

Of the above two, I can imagine the optimist being less on the defensive, always giving others benefit of doubt, or putting a positive spin on reality, while the pessimist being quite the opposite. IMHO. -Pat

[P]

Perhaps some of us feel the need to "draw" our metaphorical curtains at night. Is that being defensive?

Sometimes its necessary to be a little obscure (certainly cautious) when we're not exactly sure who we're dealing with. Perhaps a seed of doubt creeps in sometimes when a philosopher cant sleep and is up late, or perhaps we dont see something we expect (and need!), or a profile changes. Its easy to be fooled by duplicity. Often it seems as though there is a lot more going on than meets the eye.

For some this goes against the grain. Its unfortunate, but thats life. Things could change. Who knows what opportunities could present themselves in the future.

Do I feel a question stirring?

((( )))

[649]

Sometimes, it might depend on the person or person's in question.
Here, on Yahoo... many seem to be offended and think all questions are just for them. They seem to forget there are so many people here and that they are not forced to answer any or all questions. I have noticed many saying another has no right to ask him/her that question, like it was designed just for one person.
Sometimes, I may be defensive with certain people who have proven they are (not really out to get me) just being negative about things.. on a regular basis.
I usually don't find much to be on guard about on a normal basis. Still, we all have walked different paths and what may not offend or upset one of us, just might another.
Once asked... is everyone entitled to their feelings? Do people have a right to feel the way they do? Yes.. each of us has a right to feel how we feel. It's just a matter of how we handle it that becomes the real issue.

[All hat]

Who wants to know? - he asked, assuming the shape of a crab and retreating under a rock to peer out with suspicious eyes ...