Explain the significance of delabeling in counteracting patterns of attributing blame.

Answers may vary. When one person is perceived as the source of the family's difficulties, your task is to challenge this linear thinking by asking others about their role in creating and maintaining the problem. Unfortunately, this level of generosity is not always present in families, as there is a tendency to blame or label behavior, generally in negative terms. In these instances, you can move to counteract patterns of attributing blame by using the technique of delabeling. Rather than focusing on a member's perception of behavior, delabeling emphasizes the reciprocal nature of the problem. Use of the technique can also set the stage for each member to identify positive behaviors that each would like from the other.