How often do you blame other people or situations for your own failings? While blaming others may work for the moment, it is ultimately disempowering. Here are four types of ways to blame others for your own shortcomings: Positive, Negative, Global thinking and Shame dumping. Which one are you most guilty of doing? Take a look! Then, consider a new approach. And, don't forget to share this newfound wisdom with others!
Positive
If you have a tendency to blame others or situations for your own failures, you may be in denial about it. People who blame others rarely accept responsibility for their own actions, and they think only about themselves and their ideas, often completely ignoring what other people may be feeling. Blaming is a form of social comparison that makes us feel better than others. But what exactly does it mean when you blame others for your failures?
Negative
If you are one of those who frequently blame other people or situations for their failures, you may be wondering how to deal with such a person. If you have a narcissistic personality, you can recognize a blamer by their inflated sense of self. Narcissists think that they are untouchable and believe they can do no wrong. They blame everything they do wrong on others, including the actions of those around them.
Shame dumping
In other words, when you feel guilty or embarrassed, you place the blame for your shortcomings on other people or situations. Shame dumping is a common pattern for people to deal with problems in their lives. It is an unconscious tendency to blame others or situations for one's own shortcomings. Moreover, dumping your shame can lead to serious consequences in relationships. You can help yourself by understanding and recognizing your own feelings and behaviors.
Avoiding censure
Throughout history, people have resorted to shifting blame to avoid being blamed for their failures. The ancient Roman historian Titus Livius discussed this practice. While it is an old one, it continues to be a common habit. As we become more aware of the negative consequences of failure, we naturally point the finger at others for our shortcomings. In some instances, we even do this to protect ourselves from appearing as blameworthy.
Trying to inspire trust
The use of blame as a social construct may have negative effects on our social evaluations of others. If we regularly experience blame contagion, we may have expectations of others' lack of accountability. The present study explores how blame shifting influences social evaluations. Moreover, it explores the effects on subsequent expectations. This study highlights the importance of evaluating the role of blame in social evaluations.