Social groups make ideal scapegoats because of their permanence and stability

Evidence

Needs for status and esteem can also result in projection (Newman & Caldwell) or more extreme psychological responses, such as scapegoating (Glick). According to Allport, “Projection may be defined as the tendency to attribute falsely to other people motives or traits that are our own, or in some way explain or justify our own” (p. 382). With respect to scapegoating, he added, “The nearest to an all-duty scapegoat then is a religious, ethnic, or racial group. Having permanence and stability, they can be given a definite status and stereotyped as a group” (p. 246). — , Rudman, Laurie A - On the Nature of…, 123

Categorization

• DEFINE: Defines Allport’s concept of projection and explains why fixed social groups become the preferred scapegoat targets.