Someone witholds information from you because they’re afraid you might get hostile. You think they should think more highly of you and get offended. You facial expressions and your tone of voice signal the person you’re angry. Which way do you think this will affect their mostly subconscious estimation of your potential hostility in the case of volunteering the information?
I’m not trying to justify any behavior, I was referring to witholding information.
I don’t think I follow. Specify, please, to which behavior you refer.
Someone witholds information from you because they’re afraid you might get hostile. You think they should think more highly of you and get offended. You facial expressions and your tone of voice signal the person you’re angry. Which way do you think this will affect their mostly subconscious estimation of your potential hostility in the case of volunteering the information?
I’m not trying to justify any behavior, I was referring to witholding information.
I understand what you’re saying now, yes. (I think “self-fulfilling prophecy” is a misleading term to use to describe this, though.)
As to your question: I think this falls into the category of “person is not very self-aware or rational”.
I agree the expression doesn’t fit like a glove, just thought it was close enough. What do you think is misleading about it?
Perhaps, and the way I see it these qualities inconvenience even the best of us much of the time.