Scapegoating
The displacing of aggression onto some object. person, or group is scapegoating and is usually harmful to both the individual and the recipient; it is sometimes related to prejudice. In scapegoating we often hnd agreement with other people seeking out defensive behavior. And, in college. we have an ever-present situation whereby the student can join with others in blaming the educational system for his lac-k of progress. One socially undesirable effect of scapegoating is that a minority group can become the focus of attack in which large numbers of people are willing to participate. The individual may feel less personal guilt when he or she is part of a group focusing on some other group.
