verdedigingskarakter

Verdedigingskarakter is a term used in Dutch psychology and related social sciences to describe a defensive character style. It refers to a pattern in which a person organizes behavior around protecting the self from perceived threats or anxiety. This defensive stance can manifest as guardedness, withdrawal, rigidity, or excessive caution, as well as a reluctance to disclose personal information or to take interpersonal risks. The defensive orientation may be conscious or unconscious and can originate from early experiences of insecurity or trauma, though it is generally treated as a relatively stable aspect of personality or coping strategy.

In practice, verdedigsingskarakter is linked to psychodynamic ideas about defense mechanisms and character structure. It is used to describe both individual differences in everyday functioning and particular reaction patterns in stressful situations. The concept also appears in qualitative analyses of literature, film, and other media, where characters with a verdedingskarakter are understood as prioritizing self-protection over openness or growth.

Critics note that the term is broad and can be difficult to operationalize, overlapping with related constructs such as neuroticism, attachment avoidance, or specific defense mechanisms. Consequently, it is usually used as a descriptive label within a broader framework of personality and coping, rather than as a precise diagnostic category. Interventions typically focus on increasing awareness of defense patterns, reducing avoidance, and developing healthier ways to tolerate vulnerability and manage anxiety.