英语语法问题 retreating behind在句中是啥意思？

Question

victorian parents believed that they kept their dignity by retreating behind an unreasoning authoritarian attitude.

Answer 1

retreating behind an unreasoning authoritarian attitude这是一个动名词短语，做介词by的宾语，这个介宾短语在整个句子中作方式状语，retreating behind：躲到...背后

Answer 2

retreat 回避，撤回的意思, 说维多利亚时期的父母都不爱说话，看起来很有威力。