The present investigation introduces a new way to measure the existence of self-protective cognitive strategies: defensive verbal behavior assessment (DVBA). In Study 1, the authors introduce the coding procedure for DVBA and demonstrate evidence for its interrater reliability and construct validity. In Study 2, the authors demonstrate that defensive verbal behavior is influenced both by characteristics of the person and by the situational context. Together, the two studies illustrate that (a) reliable and valid behavioral assessment of defensive processes is possible in nonclinical samples without the need for lengthy assessment times or specialized clinical knowledge and (b) qualities of the person and the situation must be considered to provide a full account of self-protective behavior.
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