As human beings, we are programmed to accept praise and repel criticism. Nobody likes to be blamed for another person's mistakes, but that doesn't mean he will be bothered if he gets another person's praise.
This can be seen extensively in group activities, where most often, one person walks away with all the credit. This just happens to be one of the cruel realities of life.
History is filled with people who have never been given their due.
Chinese Sailors were the first ones to discover the Americas, and Australia, but history favors the colonists and pronounces Christopher Columbus as the discoverer of America. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1421:_The_Year_China_Discovered_the_World)
Calculus has been explained in Indian texts dated back to 1500's long before a certain Isaac
Newton was even born.(http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2007/08/14/calculus070814.html)
Some of the above stories could be dismissed as urban legends but there's no denying the fact that not everyone gets rewarded for their work.
The emotions of denial
Stage 1-Something's fishy
No fingers are pointed yet, only the problem is examined and eyebrows are raised.
Stage 2- Why would somebody do it?
Everyone loves playing detective! Honestly speaking, one good crime drama series, is all it takes for someone to think their good enough to be the next Sherlock Holmes.
Stage 3-Whodunnit?
Now things start to get a little complicated. A lot of fingers are raised, and suspicious activities are followed all the more closely. Why the hell are you sweating so much?
Stage 4- It wasn't me
With or without evidence, someone is blamed for all the happenings, and his most likely reply would be...It wasn't me.
