Relational Defensiveness At Work: An Attachment Perspective

Authors:

Abstract: Defensiveness is a self-protective reaction to a perceived threat. Whereas current theories ascribe defensiveness to individual or organizational dysfunction, we propose that defensiveness can also be a relational response, motivated by the fundamental human need to belong. In this paper, we propose a theory of relational defensiveness—a theory that explains how and when defensiveness emerges in work relationships, why people respond defensively to perceived interpersonal slights, and what differentiates relational defensiveness from existing theories of defensiveness. Building on attachment theory, we define relational defensiveness as an individual’s dysregulated emotional state oriented towards circumventing a perceived threat to the relational self. We propose that relational defensiveness arises when people sense that their connection to significant others at work is in jeopardy, leading to differential sets of dysfunctional behaviors aimed at either restoring closeness to or maximizing distance from a perceived perpetrator, both of which erode relationship quality. In doing so, we integrate and extend management research on defensiveness. We conclude with a discussion of the broader implications of relational defensiveness for building high-quality work relationships.

Track: ORG

Keywords: Defensiveness; Interpersonal Conflict; Attachment theory; Work Relationships