Shifting Blame On Others

Why We Blame Our Partner or Others?

Shifting blame on others is a common psychological and communication tactic used to avoid taking responsibility. Instead of admitting fault, a person may change the subject, point to external circumstances, or highlight someone else's behavior — without directly saying, “It’s not my fault.”

What Is Diverting Blame?

In both relationships and the workplace, we often encounter situations where someone avoids accountability by blaming a partner or others or by drawing attention to someone else’s “worse” mistake in order to minimize their own role.

Examples of Shifting Blame on Others

👉 At Work:

"The deadline wasn’t clear, and the whole team was behind — not just me."
➡ Instead of a simple, honest: "I’m sorry, I missed the deadline."

👉 In a Relationship:

"You’re always making a big deal out of nothing."
➡ This diverts attention from their own behavior to your reaction.

Common Forms of Diverting Blame

Pointing fingers at others
Blaming circumstances
Minimizing personal responsibility
Gaslighting (manipulating others to make them question their own perception)

Why Do People Shift Blame on Others?

To avoid punishment or criticism
To protect their ego or public image
To manipulate how others perceive the situation
Due to a lack of emotional maturity or accountability

Why People Shift Blame at Work

Fear of criticism or negative evaluation
Pressure to appear competent or perfect
A competitive, high-stakes environment
Lack of accountability culture within leadership

When blame becomes a habit:

Colleagues become defensive instead of collaborative
Psychological safety disappears
Innovation declines because people fear taking risks
A toxic culture of fear and finger-pointing takes root

How to Respond to Blame-Shifting Behavior

Be the first to own your mistakes.
Redirect focus to facts: "Let’s focus on what actually happened and how to fix it."
Encourage solution-oriented talk: Avoid blame games in meetings.
Address patterns privately: If someone consistently shifts blame, have a calm, direct conversation.
Promote a culture of learning over punishment: People are more likely to take responsibility when they feel safe doing so.

How to Deal With Blame-Shifting Behavior

Recognize the pattern

Be the first to own your mistakes
Stay calm (e.g., say: "Let’s look at what actually happened.")
Set healthy boundaries (e.g., "I’m open to solutions, not blame games.")
Ask reflective questions
Don’t play along — protect your energy and create distance if needed
Promote a culture of learning over punishment