Scapegoat targets are pre-chosen by envious stereotyping of powerful outgroups

Evidence

The ideological model suggests that the choice of scapegoat is primarily determined by (D) prior envious stereotyping (Fiske et al., 2002) of groups that are viewed as having the power and intent to cause widespread harm. Thus the perceived plausibility of a scapegoat ideology is influenced by cultural context. When Medieval Europe was decimated by plague, people blamed witches because witches were already believed to have the capability (via supernatural powers) and desire to cause such harm. Within the cultural context, blaming witches made “sense.” Even though blame was wholly (and horribly) misplaced, rational faculties were not abandoned. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1593

Categorization

• XREF: Connects directly to the scapegoat-theory claims being reassessed in this vault; adds the envious-stereotyping mechanism (Fiske et al. stereotype content model) that Allport-era accounts lacked.