Final answer:
Defensive behaviors like rationalization, denial of injury, and projection can stem from a belief that perceived attacks from others are due to misunderstandings.
Step-by-step explanation:
The defensive behavior that stems from a belief that the other person has been on the attack only because that person "doesn't understand" can be related to several psychological defense mechanisms. When an individual perceives that they are being attacked due to a misunderstanding, they might employ a rationalization defense mechanism. This involves justifying one's own behaviors or thoughts by providing reasonable, but not necessarily true, explanations to convince oneself and others that the perceived attack is based on a lack of understanding.
Similarly, the denial of injury mechanism could be at play. This is where one might downplay the consequences of their behavior by claiming no harm was done, suggesting that if the accuser fully understood the situation, they wouldn't see it as an issue. Lastly, an individual could be engaging in projection, attributing their own uncomfortable feelings onto the other person because they believe the other person simply does not comprehend their point of view.