Why do people get defensive when called out for something they did?

[Anonymous]

Why do some people do bad things on purpose (steal, lie, cheat, sabotage, etc.), but when someone calls them out for what they did they then get extremely defensive?

Why don't they just own up to something they know they did? Why do the action in the first place if they are going to be ashamed of it afterwards and never want to admit it?

[Guy13]

No one likes to be caught. No one likes to be Wrong or Bad as we know associated consequences.

[Anonymous]

I know someone who when you call him out for the wrongs he has done, he gets defensive. It's because in their eyes, they don't believe they have done anything wrong.

[OddBeMe]

Uhh its involuntary natural response.