Blaming others for unwanted outcomes has become so common as to be expected and even sought-after.

Blame-shifting is a maladaptive way of coping with shame and avoiding responsibility for errors.

Understanding that shame is most often self-generated facilitates superior coping.

We live in a culture of blame. Conflict and division occur daily in families, workplaces, and government. Blaming others for unwanted outcomes (blame-shifting) is a way of avoiding taking responsibility for errors or misjudgment. Most individuals are offended by others falsely accusing them. This leads to conflict, undermining of trust, and compromise of the relationship.

Avoidance of consequences drives blame in circumstances involving illegal activities. In most circumstances, intentional commission of illegal acts and then covering them up by blaming others is associated with significant antisocial symptoms. These individuals are generally incapable of feeling shame. But in almost all other situations, blaming others is a way of avoiding feelings of shame. Unwanted outcomes resulting from choices or behaviors make individuals feel stupid, careless, defective, etc. because they have erred. Belief that others will see them in these terms makes them feel shame. Blaming others, or blame shifting, is a way of projecting feelings of shame onto someone else to avoid feeling shame. Following is a typical example.

Liz and Dean were getting ready to attend Liz’s........

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