Defining Scapegoating

Mark Terrell
Oct 2, 2020
2 min read

As I wrote in my last blog post I am doing a series on scapegoating. Last time I just raised the question that this, scapegoating,” might be one of the many underlying themes that is driving the unrest in our country. I posed three questions: 1) What is scapegoating? 2) Why do we scapegoat? 3) How can we stop?

In this post I want to briefly define and talk about what Scapegoating is. First, I am going to give 2 definitions from two different sources. Second, I will give some other words that can be used to replace the word scapegoat/scapegoating but essentially mean the same thing or at least used in the same manner. Finally, I will give some of my thoughts about the definition.

What does it mean to Scapegoat? 1) a person who is blamed for the wrongdoings, mistakes, or faults of others, especially for reasons of expediency. 2) a person or group made to bear the blame for others or to suffer in their place.

Here are some words that are often used instead of “scapegoat” and essentially are used in the same way.

1) fallguy 2) fool

3) pushover

4) stooge

5) sucker 6) sacrifice 7) gull 8) schmuck 9) patsy 10) mark 11) dupe 12) victim 13) chump 14) sap 15) weakling 16) goat 17) doormat 18) pigeon 19) sitting duck

To put it another way. A scapegoat is someone or some group that is blamed for the trouble or hardships of another group. They can be described as suckers, chumps, stooges, fool or fallguy, etc.

As I read these definitions and other words used in its place the scapegoat is blamed for being put into the position of the one/ones blamed for the adversity of group naming the scapegoat. In other words, the victim, the one/those suffering, the one/those who is/are poor, and all those who are on the lowest rung of society are blamed for being in the position that they are in.

Why do people scapegoat?

What questions do you have about the definition of Scapegoat?