This is actually an effort to protect their tenuous self-image from further assault, like an emotional survival mechanism. The most common avoidance strategy is what is known as projecting blame. Children are notorious for blaming others for their mistakes. Excessive avoidance of responsibility for one s behavior can result in a number of problematic issues. In the most extreme cases, avoiding self-responsibility often leads to incarceration.
Jails are full of irresponsible people with low self-esteem who blame others for their predicament.
The more common problem with avoiding responsibility for one s behavior is not learning from one s mistakes. Using positive discipline techniques naturally fosters a sense of responsibility in our children for their behavior, along with pride in their accomplishments and an enhanced self-esteem. In addition, the higher one s self-esteem, the easier it is to accept responsibility for faults and mistakes. Only after we accept responsibility for our behavior can we truly take pride in or change it. It all works together.