Why do people try to shift thier responsibility... Please read on?

Question

I asked a question a while ago about our societies responsibility as far as those that we consider to be monstrous, responsibility as far as their creation. Only a few people answered but the majority of them tried to return the blame squarely back to the person. They, it seemed, totally rejected any personal responsibility for anything to do with any action that could have contributed to the creation of those that are considered monstrous.

Why is it that we as a society referrers to shift blame from ourselves, when it is clear that if we have done something or nothing in the formative years we are directly responsible for what results, and place blame on the person by saying that they have free will? Is it not a cheap lie that we tell ourselves to make ourselves feel better and more righteous?

Why do people shift the blame?

Thanks.

Answer 1

This is an awesome question! Know why? Because there isn't a clear black and white, right or wrong answer. It's a very hot issue that evokes strong emotions on both sides.

For the most part I agree with you. By "responsibility as far as their creation" do you mean someone's parents, or at least their main caregiver? I'm guessing you meant the person who influenced their upbringing the most. True, we/they/them, whatever, will always try do what makes us feel better, not necessarily more righteous, but whatever would get us through the horror of having someone so "monstrous" as you say, so close to us. I think it's more an individual response as opposed to putting a blanket label on society as a whole. What I think is more harmful is the individual blaming everything under the sun for causing them behave monstrously. You've got to understand it's not always clear if our actions in raising someone actually is a cause for their future behavior. Plenty of people grew up poor, or abused, or unloved, or in a bad home environment, etc. and they still made the choice to do what it takes to recover and live as productive members of society. Just by the same token, plenty of people with every advantage from day one have turned out to be the scourge of the world.

You can do a million different things right through someone's formative years and still wind up with unbelievable chaos on your hands. You do the best you can, but be honest: how many people when they truly know they have done wrong, step up and admit it? You naturally blame anything and anyone you can to absolve yourself, it's human nature...

Answer 2

Maybe society shifts the blame to make the monstrous accountable for their own actions.

Answer 3

We all lie to ourselves to some degree, so that we can remain sane. Still, we have to always analyze what came first; the chicken or the egg. While one can argue that we all have free will, we must also be cognizant of the fact that our attitudes or behaviors can affect others, either in a positive manner or in a negative manner. In addition to that, we have to recognize that some people have difficulty working through the maze and we have to help them find their way out. Does that mean that they chose to be helpless or lost? I think not. It's is just one of life's many quirks.

Answer 4

people shift blame to make themself feel better,they knew things are not perfect but they cheat themself...we have to do so as we are living in a realistic world and we can't change anything even if we are not happy with it

Answer 5

People shift their responsibility because they fear the consequences of their actions.

Answer 6

absolutely, if you "justify" or even "validate" the monstrous, how can we deter others from the same behavior?

Answer 7

We are all a product of our environment.