what is "whipping boy" syndrome?

Question

how do you deal with a person who exibits this type of behavior to help them to stop?

Answer 1

I have been trying to look this one up and can't find it. Do you have any other names for it?

Answer 2

What they are probably referring to, is a person who constantly acts like a "whipping boy."

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/whipping-boy.html
"A scapegoat. One who is singled out for blame or punishment."

Thus it would be referring to someone who constantly singles themselves out for blame or punishment.

In reality, there is no such standard term "whipping boy syndrome" and was likely made up by whoever told it to you to look like they knew what they were talking about.

As far as treating someone who exhibits this type of behavior, first you need to determine the cause. Here are a few high probability causes:
1. Depression - Clinical depression can and often does lead to a person blaming themselves for any negative circumstances. This should be dealt with by a psychiatric professional.
2. Guilt - He/she is feeling guilty over something they have done in the past, and is using any future sources of punishment to alleviate this guilt. He/she needs to deal with this guilt properly, usually in the form of discussing it with someone he/she can trust.
3. Masochistic (self-defeating) personality disorder - "a pervasive pattern of self-defeating behavior, beginning by early adulthood and present in a variety of contexts." This again, should definitely be referred to and treated by a psychiatric professional.

Hope this helps,
Ken