The Scapegoat – and why we use it.

Amended: October 25, 2018.

This ancient form of “displacement” activity is still very prevalent today. And it is really very simple. It is a form of aggression used to relieve frustration (in a person, a group, or society in general) that is usually directed at a weaker person (or group) that is unable to retaliate – and can thus be easily blamed for causing the frustration.

The scapegoat is usually distinct, easily identifiable and “different” from the more dominant person or group thus justifying the aggression and prejudice – “they are not us” – and so - “it is their fault!”

An intense frustration directed at some individual or group (which cannot be easily assuaged) gives rise to what is known as a “Frustration – Aggression - Displacement Hypothesis” and thus a Scapegoat is found.

We all, each one of us, thinks or believes, that we are “good” – no one believes, deep down, that they are “bad”. So if any untoward event causes us to look in the “mirror” as it were, and we see ourselves unfavourbly reflected in the face or eyes of another, we may be shocked or dismayed at what we see. This will often give rise to denial – “that’s not me!” 

We therefor blame the “scapegoat”. And more often than not there is extreme violence applied to the scapegoat – sometimes death. 

Many examples of “scapegoating” are recorded in history – the Bible is a good source. Two tragic, unfortunate but classic, more recent, scapegoat examples were the racial aggression (extrajudicial action that led to the lynching of African Americans) in the Southern States of the USA. As the price of cotton fell and the slaves were freed (causing frustration as economic opportunities for the white people were reduced) the African Americans (all either former slaves or descended from slaves) were blamed and the numbers of lynching increased as the economy in the Southern States tanked (prejudice and displaced aggression). 

The other was the anti-Semitism, the prejudice, aggression and extreme measures directed at the Jews in Nazi Germany in the period leading up to the Second World War. In this case the Jews were targeted and blamed, by Hitler, for the economic and political crisis that arose after Germany suffered the humiliation of firstly losing the First World War and then being forced to pay massive reparations as determined by the 1920 Treaty of Versailles. Again, an example of frustration leading to displaced aggression against a weaker group.

The Jews were in no position to retaliate and six million were killed, just as the African Americans had no recourse against the Ku Klux Klan and the judicial system applying at that time. It is believed that about 3500 African Americans were lynched.  

Now, today, it is Mexican “drug addicts, rapists and undocumented immigrants swarming across the border” between Mexico and the USA. 

Now, today, it is Islamic fundamentalists not willing to integrate and trying to subject Europe to Sharia Law, also taking jobs from hard working Christian Europeans. 

Now, today, it is “illegal boat people” and “asylum seekers” still trying to flood into Australia. 

Now, today, it is “criminal elements” within the ethnic minority Muslim Rohingya causing problems in Buddhist Myanmar. 

Now, today, it is immigrants causing violent crimes, taking jobs and causing the funding problems with the UK’s National Health Services.

Now today we have the Saudi Arabian Crown Prince authorising(?) the murder and dismembering of Jamal Khashoggi  in Turkey (he was a  journalist who wrote for the Washington Post and who annoyed the Prince). Khashoggi exposed corruption and the Saudi involvement in the "war" in Yemen. And this was in the Saudi Embassy in Istanbul, no less. 

They too have no recourse - none of them.

The scapegoat is always chosen because it is easy to victimize without fear of retaliation.

As the Nazi Hermann Goering ominously warned the Nuremberg War Crimes Trial (1946): “The people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same way in any country.”