Passive constructions can be used to deflect blame or responsibility by shifting the focus from the actor to the action itself. By avoiding naming the doer of the action, responsibility can be obscured or diluted.

Passive voice is often employed in situations where responsibility needs to be avoided or downplayed for various reasons such as protection of someone’s reputation, minimizing negative consequences, or simply to create ambiguity. This allows for a more indirect or impersonal portrayal of events, making it harder to pinpoint who should be held accountable.

Shifting the focus away from the person or group responsible for the action can help in diffusing tensions, avoiding conflicts, or maintaining diplomatic relations. It also provides a way to speak objectively about actions without directly attributing them to specific individuals, thereby reducing the risk of confrontation or backlash.

Overall, passive constructions offer a linguistic tool that can be strategically used to manage perceptions, mitigate accountability, or navigate sensitive situations where assigning blame directly could have adverse effects.