scapegoat

Scapegoat refers to a person or group that is unfairly blamed for problems or failures, often in order to deflect responsibility from the real causes. The term originates from a biblical ritual described in Leviticus 16, where a priest places the sins of the community on a goat and sends it into the wilderness to bear the people’s iniquities. In English usage, the metaphorical sense emerged in early modern times and now denotes a target of blame used to channel collective guilt or anger.

In social and organizational contexts, scapegoating occurs when blame is assigned to a convenient target to preserve a positive self-image of the in-group, manage anxiety, or simplify complex problems. Scapegoats are sometimes members of marginalized or vulnerable groups, though any target can be selected. Psychological theories cite attribution biases, in-group/out-group dynamics, and threat responses as drivers.

Consequences include harm to the scapegoat, erosion of trust, and distraction from identifying real systemic causes. Scapegoating can fuel discrimination, social conflict, and cycles of retaliation. Critics warn against oversimplifying problems and encourage examining structural or process-related factors rather than single-blame explanations.

The concept is used across disciplines, including anthropology, sociology, psychology, and political science, to describe both ancient rituals and modern social dynamics. It serves as a reminder of how blame can be manipulated to rationalize aggression or avoidance of accountability.