Which thinking error is described as refusing to take responsibility?

• A. Power and Control
• B. Victim Stance
• C. Blaming Others
• D. Rational Detachment

Answer: (C)

Taking responsibility for one’s role in an incident is essential for learning and improving safety. Refusing to take responsibility is a thinking error called blaming others. It shifts accountability away from the individual, prevents honest reflection on personal actions, and blocks adjustments to de‑escalation or safety plans. By blaming others, a person avoids examining their own cues, choices, or the way they responded, which makes it harder to prevent recurrence.

This is different from a power and control pattern, where the focus is on dominating or manipulating the situation rather than simply avoiding responsibility. It’s also distinct from a victim stance, which centers on feeling powerless or unfairly treated, not necessarily about attributing responsibility to someone else. Rational detachment, meanwhile, involves staying emotionally neutral to think clearly and respond effectively, not avoiding accountability.

In practice, owning one’s part—acknowledging how their actions, stance, or decisions contributed to the outcome—helps guide honest debriefing, learning, and adjustments to prevent future incidents.