Raise the draw-bridge!

The fear of self knowledge in Western males does seem rooted in self-hatred, which in turn, is probably rooted in Judeo-Christian notions concerning sexuality as the original sin. The solution that most men try for is to make you culpable for their feelings of "sin"so that they can distance these feelings from themselves. Something that I have learned is that you should never create an affective "bridge" between you and someone who is trying to do this. They are effectively trying to transfer their "demons" from themselves to you. Rather, you should raise the draw-bridge and force them to deal with their own demons in isolation.