“Blaming the Victim”
It’s Your Fault
What is Blaming the Victim?
Suggesting that a victim is somehow responsible for an offense made against them.
Business Application
This tactic is used as a means to justify bad behavior and should serve as a signal to be very cautious about any future necessary engagements.
Example 1
“They should have read the contract and noticed that we have a $25,000 early termination clause.”
Why This is a Fallacy
Reading a contract is an essential practice for any business owner. Inserting an egregious early termination fee buried within the depths of a lengthy contract is deceptive. Blaming the client for trusting their company in good faith is bad business.
Example 2
“The customer was clearly upset so if Larry was more sympathetic they probably wouldn’t have cursed him out and canceled.”
Why This is a Fallacy
When something goes wrong, it is common to try to review what happened. The goal is to determine if a more acceptable outcome might occur if it were handled differently. Blaming one person for the behavior of another, however, eliminates the constructive properties of this review.
