Individual-level frustration theories cannot explain why mass scapegoating spreads consensually across a whole society.
Evidence
The model begins with (A) widespread, shared frustrations, the kind of group-level events that Staub (1989) and Tajfel (1981) viewed as a prerequisite for scapegoating. These difficult life conditions (B) frustrate basic needs and arouse shared anxieties (Staub, 1989) that (C) lead to a collective search for explanations and solutions (Tajfel, 1981). — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1591 (
#complicates, via linked claim)
Categorization
- XREF: connects to: Scapegoating requires large shared frustrations plus a blaming ideology. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 794; Only widely shared, large-scale frustrations produce consensual scapegoating of a group. — Leonard S. Newman and Ralph Erber (eds.), Understanding Genocide: The Social…, 789; Mass scapegoating cannot be explained by millions sharing identical individual frustrations. (+8 more)
Broader Connections
- Individual-level theories cannot explain synchronized mass scapegoating movements
#expands(0.95) - Shared frustrations from difficult life conditions precede collective scapegoating.
#complicates(0.78) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1591