"To trace something unknown back to something known is alleviating, soothing, gratifying and gives moreover a feeling of power."

The idea that events have defined causes is more or less political. We emphasize the causes that benefit us and minimize the ones that hurt us. Only on this basis can we take credit and blame.

I think that taking blame is probably countersignaling in many cases. I also think no one thought they could effectively countersignal in the shuttle disasters, rightly so.