Scapegoating can intensify, not subside, when it seems to succeed

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. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1608

Categorization

• XREF: Directly contradicts the frustration-aggression-derived claim in Allport’s classic scapegoat theory already covered in this prejudic-psychology thread; use it to update the scapegoating entry.