Editing Scapegoating (section)

==At the individual level==

A medical definition of scapegoating is:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?scapegoating |title=scapegoating – Definition |publisher=Mondofacto.com |date=1998-12-12 |access-date=2012-03-07 |archive-date=2017-10-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171019203829/http://www.mondofacto.com/facts/dictionary?scapegoating |url-status=dead }}</ref>

{{blockquote|Process in which the mechanisms of [[Psychological projection|projection]] or [[Displacement (psychology)|displacement]] are used in focusing feelings of [[aggression]], [[hostility]], [[frustration]], etc., upon another individual or group; the amount of [[blame]] being unwarranted. Scapegoating is a hostile tactic often employed to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group. Scapegoating relates to [[guilt by association]] and [[stereotyping]].}}

Scapegoated groups throughout history have included almost every imaginable group of people: genders, religions, people of different races, nations, or sexual orientations, people with different political beliefs, or people differing in behaviour from the majority. However, scapegoating may also be applied to organizations, such as governments, corporations, or various political groups.

===Its archetype===
Jungian analyst [[Sylvia Brinton Perera]] situates its mythology of [[Shadow (psychology)|shadow]] and [[Guilt (emotion)|guilt]].<ref>Perera, ''The Scapegoat Complex'' (1986).</ref> Individuals experience it at the [[Jungian archetype|archetypal]] level. As an ancient social process to rid a community of its past evil deeds and reconnect it to the sacred realm, the [[scapegoat]] appeared in a biblical rite,<ref>[[Acharei Mot|Book of ''Leviticus'', Chapter 16]], per the holy day of [[Yom Kippur]].</ref> which involved two goats and the pre-Judaic, [[chthonic]] god [[Azazel]].<ref>Perera (1986), p.17: the Hebrews "later considered Azazel a fallen angel". Perera at p.112 n.28, citing to [[Louis Ginzberg]].</ref> In the modern scapegoat complex, however, "the energy field has been radically broken apart" and the libido "split off from consciousness". Azazel's role is deformed into an accuser of the scapegoated victim.<ref>Perera (1986), p.18 (two quotes re modern secular culture, Azazel's role debased).</ref>

Blame for breaking a perfectionist moral code, for instance, might be measured out by aggressive scapegoaters. Themselves often wounded, the scapegoaters can be sadistic, [[superego]] accusers with brittle [[Persona (psychology)|persona]]s, who have driven their own shadows [[Unconscious mind|underground]] from where such are [[Psychological projection|projected]] onto the victim. The scapegoated victim may then live in a hell of felt unworthiness, retreating from consciousness, burdened by shadow and transpersonal guilt,<ref>Cf. [[C. G. Jung]], "A psychological view of conscience" in his ''Collected Works'' (Princeton: Bollingen 1953–1979), vol. 10, cited by Perera (1986), re pp. 11–12 n.8, 14 n.21, 33 n.45.</ref> and hiding from the pain of self-understanding. [[Psychotherapy|Therapy]] includes modeling self-protective skills for the victim's battered ego, and guidance in the search for inner integrity, to find the victim's own [[voice]].<ref>Perera (1986): archetype (pp. 9–10, 16, 18, 48–49, 73, 77, 83, 98); ancient rite (pp. 8, 11–25, two goats 16–17, 88–97); modern complex (18–29, 30, 98, quotes at 18); accusers (9, 18–21, blames victim 20, superego 21, 28–29, 30–33, shadow 30, projected 31, also wounded 32, 55); victims (11–12, 15–16, hiding 24, 26–28, hell 26, ego 28, 33, 34–35, 43–72, burden 98); within families (30–33, 35, 53–54, 73, 76, 99); therapy (18, 22, 24–25, 26–29, voice 29, 33, 41–43, 47, 69–72, 86–97).</ref>

===Projection===
{{Main|Psychological projection}}
Unwanted thoughts and feelings can be unconsciously projected onto another who becomes a scapegoat for one's own problems. This concept can be extended to projection by groups. In this case the chosen individual, or group, becomes the scapegoat for the group's problems. "Political agitation in all countries is full of such projections, just as much as the backyard gossip of little groups and individuals."<ref>M.-L. von Franz, in C. G. Jung, ''Man and his Symbols'' (London 1964) p. 181</ref> Swiss psychiatrist [[Carl Jung]] considered indeed that "there must be some people who behave in the wrong way; they act as scapegoats and objects of interest for the normal ones".<ref>C. G Jung, ''Analytical Psychology'' (London 1976) p. 108</ref>