Communication: Games People Play 3 of 7 in series. 

Part 3: Blame Shifting: How Responsibility Gets Lost in Conflict

Blame shifting occurs when responsibility for a problem is redirected instead of shared. Conversations become focused on who is at fault rather than what needs to change.

This pattern often sounds like:

• “You’re the one who started it.”
  
  
• “I wouldn’t react this way if you didn’t…”
  
  
• “This is your issue, not mine.”
  
  

Blame shifting creates circular arguments and emotional exhaustion. One person may feel blamed while the other feels perpetually defensive.

Healthy communication allows for shared responsibility—even when experiences differ. Therapy helps individuals and couples move away from fault-finding and toward collaborative problem-solving.

Coming next: Narrative confusion—when reality seems to keep changing.