This technique directs attention away from the actual causes of an issue and channels societal resentment and frustration toward an easy target, uniting people against a perceived common enemy. Historically, scapegoating has been used to deflect accountability, marginalize groups, and consolidate power by exploiting collective fears and frustrations.
Scapegoating leverages deep-seated psychological tendencies, particularly the need for individuals to make sense of complex problems by identifying a clear and often simplistic cause. Attribution bias
- the tendency to misinterpret the causes of behaviors or events by overemphasizing either personal traits or external factors.
plays a key role, as people tend to oversimplify the causes of issues by assigning blame to a single target, even when systemic or other factors are at play.
Additionally, scapegoating taps into tribalism - a psychological mechanism in which people categorize themselves and others into groups, fostering loyalty and favoritism toward their ingroup while stereotyping or discriminating against outgroups.
, where individuals strengthen their sense of belonging and shared identity by uniting against an outsider perceived as a threat. Fear, frustration, and anger—emotions often amplified in times of crisis—further drive the scapegoating process, as people seek an outlet for their anxieties.
Scapegoating functions by redirecting blame from those in power or the actual causes of a problem to a person or group who is portrayed as responsible. For instance, during economic downturns, political leaders may blame immigrants for "taking jobs" or "draining public resources," deflecting attention from systemic issues like poor economic policy or rising automation.
In Nazi Germany, scapegoating reached devastating heights as Adolf Hitler and the Nazi regime blamed Jews for Germany’s economic hardships and societal struggles, fueling widespread anti-Semitism and ultimately leading to the Holocaust. Scapegoating’s capacity to channel collective frustrations can lead to catastrophic consequences.
Disarming scapegoating is particularly difficult because it often reinforces preexisting stereotypes or biases, making the accusations seem credible to those already predisposed to distrust the scapegoated group. Efforts to counter scapegoating may also inadvertently draw more attention to the accusations, reinforcing their salience in the public mind even if they are demonstrably false—a phenomenon similar to the continued influence effect - a cognitive phenomenon where misinformation persists in people’s minds and continues to influence their beliefs or behaviors, even after they recognize it has been debunked.
. These entrenched beliefs create a self-reinforcing cycle where any attempt to challenge the narrative is met with resistance or outright rejection.
Scapegoating also thrives on emotional appeals, such as fear, anger, and resentment, which can overshadow rational thinking and make audiences less receptive to evidence-based arguments. The emotional and tribal nature of scapegoating often provides a sense of unity and purpose for the ingroup, as they bond over a shared "enemy." This dynamic is further amplified when influential leaders or media outlets reinforce the scapegoating narrative, lending it a veneer of legitimacy and making dissenting voices appear out of touch or even complicit.
To identify scapegoating, pay attention to patterns of blame that target a vulnerable individual or group without evidence or with oversimplified reasoning. Ask yourself: Is the blame supported by facts, or does it rely on stereotypes and vague assertions? Does the accusation shift accountability away from those truly responsible or divert attention from broader systemic issues?
Interviews related to scapegoating
Producer: Lauren Shields
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