Denial strategy # 5: Blaming

"These problems are not our fault. We don’t have to deal with them!"
      

         

     When a problem progresses to the point that one can no longer, avoid, deny, minimize or rationalize it, people often revert to scapegoating.  This usually takes the form of a partial admission of a transgression while claiming that it is mostly somebody else’s fault.  They’re just a victim of circumstance.  They are powerless to change.  If you were in their shoes you’d do it too.  By blaming others for their contributions to a problem they deny taking responsibility for their own.  They justify inaction by laying the blame elsewhere. 

        

         By keeping the debate focused on who is responsible effective action is delayed.  In reality, a consensus on whom or what is truly at fault is not always necessary for constructive steps forward to take place.  However, by blaming they raise the stakes and polarize stakeholders.  The result is inaction as shifting and assigning blame becomes easier and more palatable than taking responsibility.  Polarized stakeholders inevitably disagree in deciding a common path forward because they become distracted from the core issues.  This strategy often goes unrecognized by those that employ it.