Scapegoat movements that improve conditions strengthen, not weaken, ideological commitment.

Evidence

Finally, if ideological commitment is the proximal cause of scapegoating, an important implication follows. Older scapegoat theories assumed that the lessening of frustrations would decrease subsequent scapegoating. The current model suggests, however, that if the scapegoating movement itself is viewed as having improved general life conditions ( J), thereby “proving” its effectiveness, ideological commitment is likely to increase. For example, the Nazis’ economic successes in the 1930s increased Germans’ faith in Hitler’s policies, encouraging the Nazis to take increasingly harsh and, finally, murderous actions against the Jews. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1608 (#expands, via linked claim)

Finally, if ideological commitment is the proximal cause of scapegoating, an important implication follows. Older scapegoat theories assumed that the lessening of frustrations would decrease subsequent scapegoating. The current model suggests, however, that if the scapegoating movement itself is viewed as having improved general life conditions ( J), thereby “proving” its effectiveness, ideological commitment is likely to increase. For example, the Nazis’ economic successes in the 1930s increased Germans’ faith in Hitler’s policies, encouraging the Nazis to take increasingly harsh and, finally, murderous actions against the Jews. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608 (#corroborates, via linked claim)

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Successful scapegoating can strengthen commitment to the scapegoating ideology — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1608; Successful scapegoating campaigns can intensify rather than abate. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608; Scapegoating can intensify, not subside, when it seems to succeed — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608 (+2 more)

Broader Connections

• Improved conditions credited to scapegoating can intensify it, not reduce it. #corroborates (0.96)
• Successful scapegoating can strengthen commitment to the scapegoating ideology #expands (0.95) — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1608
• Successful scapegoating campaigns can intensify rather than abate. #corroborates (0.92) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608
• Scapegoating can intensify, not subside, when it seems to succeed #corroborates (0.92) — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608