Which practice involves blaming someone else for problems to deflect responsibility?

Which practice involves blaming someone else for problems to deflect responsibility?

• A. Ad hominem
• B. Denial evades responsibility
• C. Scapegoating
• D. Group dynamics

Answer: (C)

Scapegoating is the practice of blaming someone else for problems to deflect responsibility. When trouble arises, a person or group points to a single individual to take the fall, hoping to shield themselves from accountability and protect the group’s image. That exact pattern—shifting blame to another person to avoid facing the real causes—is what makes scapegoating the right label. Ad hominem is a personal attack on someone's character and can be used in disputes, but it's not specifically about blaming another person to dodge responsibility. Denial of responsibility is about refusing accountability oneself, not necessarily blaming someone else. Group dynamics refers to how people interact within a group and influence behavior, not a blame tactic in itself.

Scapegoating is the practice of blaming someone else for problems to deflect responsibility. When trouble arises, a person or group points to a single individual to take the fall, hoping to shield themselves from accountability and protect the group’s image. That exact pattern—shifting blame to another person to avoid facing the real causes—is what makes scapegoating the right label. Ad hominem is a personal attack on someone's character and can be used in disputes, but it's not specifically about blaming another person to dodge responsibility. Denial of responsibility is about refusing accountability oneself, not necessarily blaming someone else. Group dynamics refers to how people interact within a group and influence behavior, not a blame tactic in itself.