Many people, including partners, parents, teachers, and bosses ask questions when they really want to make a statement of challenge or criticism. Having practiced law for ten years I can attest to the fact that attorneys have made an art of this practice (e.g. “Didn’t you know you were drunk when you got into the car?” or “Did you really think it was okay to threaten someone in order to get your property back?”) Psychologically speaking, when someone asks you this kind of question, they are giving a double message or “double signal” which puts you in a no-win situation—you have been criticized but can’t respond as if you have been criticized. You are not free to defend yourself or counter the criticism. This not only allows the criticism to enter unabated, but it makes you feel that there is something wrong with you if you feel hurt or get defensive. The injury from the criticism is bad enough, but the sense that something is wrong with you for feeling or responding the way you do—that’s shame.