Justification
Justification is constantly shifting focus from actions onto reasons or intentions. Everyone is able to provide 'good' reasons for what they do. Possible reasons are always numerous. In a situation where "what happened,"and the responsibility for what happened is not disputed, discussing reasons may be self revealing and enjoyable. But where actions have never really been owned, switching to reasons is part of the con and intended to maintain the imbalance in power.
One type of justification is an excuse. Excuses that shift the focus on others are simply blame. Usually the excuses shift the focus from the actions to the primary aggressor's point of view. At the very least, evaluating and debating excuses keeps the original controlling behavior out of focus or even forgotten.