Final answer:
Defensiveness is a common reaction to feeling attacked or negatively judged, serving as a mechanism to guard one's self-image and counter criticism. It should not be confused with regression, an ego defense mechanism of reverting to immature behaviors. Melancholy is not considered one of the seven universal emotions discussed in psychological literature.
Step-by-step explanation:
Defensiveness is generally a response to being attacked or put down. When individuals feel unjustly accused or criticized, they often resort to defensive behavior as a means of protecting their self-esteem and deflecting further criticism. This is different from the ego defense mechanism where an individual reverts to a more immature behavioral stage, which is known as regression. The seven universal emotions mentioned in the referenced chapter likely include sadness, happiness, fear, disgust, anger, surprise, and contempt, with melancholy not typically listed as one of these core emotions.