Denials of responsibility in couple therapy

Abstract

Although minimization of blaming and denials of responsibility are key components of many approaches to couple therapy, there has been little attention paid to how partners absolve themselves of responsibility and counter attributions of blame. In this study, we used thematic analysis to examine 40 videorecorded sessions of couple therapy. The study shows that injuring partners denied responsibility for harm by shifting it to sources outside of themselves, thereby justifying their own actions and minimizing negative consequences. More subtle ways of deflecting responsibility—partial or qualified admission of fault—were also observed. The implications for couple therapy are discussed.