#RTL-114Re-tell LectureAcademicMedium

Targets of Blame

Official Question Material
Prep: 10 Seconds

Official Audio Prompt

So target of blame seems to be why these folks can become so difficult. If you're the target of blame, your life may be ruined by one of these folks, and that's what people need to become aware of. So the target of blame: each of these five high-conflict personalities tends to zero in generally on one person. It could change over time, but they see that person as the cause of all their problems. And so they want to control that person, or eliminate that person, or destroy or humiliate that person. It's a fixation on one person. And all of their life problems they emotionally focus on that person. So you don't want to be one of those folks. How to avoid being a target of blame? First of all, if you see warning signs of this behavior, don't get too close to such a person. You may be a friend, but don't be the closest friend. You may be a co-worker, but don't be the closest co-worker. Because what seems to happen is the people they get really close to are the ones that are most at risk of becoming their targets of blame. But it could be anybody. They tend to target intimate others and people in authority. So this could be boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, parents, children, co-workers, neighbors they get close to. It also could be police, could be a government agency or government official, could be their boss, could be the company owner. So they tend to focus on intimate others, and, or people in authority.

Sample Answer & Audio Transcript

So target of blame seems to be why these folks can become so difficult. If you're the target of blame, your life may be ruined by one of these folks, and that's what people need to become aware of. So the target of blame: each of these five high-conflict personalities tends to zero in generally on one person. It could change over time, but they see that person as the cause of all their problems. And so they want to control that person, or eliminate that person, or destroy or humiliate that person. It's a fixation on one person. And all of their life problems they emotionally focus on that person. So you don't want to be one of those folks. How to avoid being a target of blame? First of all, if you see warning signs of this behavior, don't get too close to such a person. You may be a friend, but don't be the closest friend. You may be a co-worker, but don't be the closest co-worker. Because what seems to happen is the people they get really close to are the ones that are most at risk of becoming their targets of blame. But it could be anybody. They tend to target intimate others and people in authority. So this could be boyfriends, girlfriends, husbands, wives, parents, children, co-workers, neighbors they get close to. It also could be police, could be a government agency or government official, could be their boss, could be the company owner. So they tend to focus on intimate others, and, or people in authority.
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Pearson Official Scoring Guide for Re-tell Lecture

Scored Enabling Skills

  • Listening (Content)
  • Speaking (Oral Fluency & Pronunciation)

Timing Standard

Response Window: 40 Seconds

💡 Examiner Strategy & Pro Tip:Take 4-6 keyword phrases and organize them into: Introduction of topic, key findings, and summary.