Scapegoats are chosen for perceived power, not vulnerability.

Evidence

Thus parts A–E of the current model answer many of Allport’s critiques of earlier scapegoat theory (corresponding to Allport’s numbered critiques): (1) Why does frustration not always lead to intergroup aggression? Because only widely shared (not individual) frustrations are likely to lead to scapegoating. (2) Why is aggression ever “displaced”? Aggression may be better characterized as misplaced as a result of prior cultural stereotypes that characterize an outgroup as having the ability and intent to cause harm to the ingroup. (3) Why would human nature include an inherently maladaptive displacement tendency? It does not; a generally adaptive attribution process, due to limited cognitive capacity, imperfect knowledge, and motivational and cultural biases, results in misplaced blame. (4) Which groups are likely to be scapegoated? Successful but resented minorities. (5) Are groups always chosen for their perceived vulnerability? No, precisely the opposite – groups are scapegoated because they are (often falsely) perceived to be powerful and malevolent. — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice, 1599

(2) Why is aggression ever “displaced”? Aggression may be better characterized as misplaced as a result of prior cultural stereotypes that characterize an outgroup as having the ability and intent to cause harm to the ingroup. (3) Why would human nature include an inherently maladaptive displacement tendency? It does not; a generally adaptive attribution process, due to limited cognitive capacity, imperfect knowledge, and motivational and cultural biases, results in misplaced blame. (4) Which groups are likely to be scapegoated? Successful but resented minorities. (5) Are groups always chosen for their perceived vulnerability? No, precisely the opposite – groups are scapegoated because they are (often falsely) perceived to be powerful and malevolent. — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1599

Categorization

• QUESTION: The claim that scapegoats are resented successful minorities and chosen for perceived power directly contradicts the intuitive vulnerability account — how does this square with historical cases like Jews as simultaneously ‘powerful’ and ‘weak’ targets?
• XREF: Reverses the common ‘persecution of the weak’ narrative; connects to Girard’s scapegoat mechanism and to how minority groups are targeted precisely when they rise.
• corroborated: 2 independent passages support this claim — John F. Dovidio, Peter Glick, Laurie A. Rudman, On the Nature of Prejudice: Fifty Years…, 1599; , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 1599