MTU Library Catalogue

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Scapegoats : transferring blame / Tom Douglas.

By: Douglas, Tom.
Material type: materialTypeLabelBookPublisher: London : Routledge, 1995Description: viii, 213 p. : ill. ; 23 cm. + pbk.ISBN: 0415110181 v (hbk.); 041511019X m (pbk.).Subject(s): Attribution (Social psychology) | Scapegoat -- Psychological aspects | Blame | Victims -- PsychologyDDC classification: 302.12
Contents:
Part I: Ancient ritual -- Origins: Tyndale's world and its continued use -- Purification and propitiation: scapegoating founded in the belief systems of society -- Sin-eaters, whipping boys and fall guys: the role of 'victim' and the changes to it brought about by modifications of the belief system -- Part II: Social behaviour: examples and analysis -- Scapegoating as public behaviour: the process of scapegoating -- Scapegoating as social behaviour: examples of the process of scapegoating in families, organisations and groups -- Victims: examples of victimisation -- Part III: Theories and explanations -- Attempts at understanding: the process -- Attempts at understanding: the victim. What makes an individual or a group become the victims in the scapegoating process? -- Part IV: Management -- The management of scapegoating -- The resolution of scapegoating -- Rite, ritual or survival strategy? Final considerations.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Barcode
General lending MTU Bishopstown Library Lending 302.12 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00076719
General lending MTU Bishopstown Library Lending 302.12 (Browse shelf(Opens below)) 1 Available 00076720
Total holds: 0

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Scapegoats are a universal phenomenon, appearing in all societies at all times in groups large and small, in public and private organizations. Hardly a week passes without some media reference to someone or something being made a scapegoat. Tom Douglas examines the process of scapegoating from the perspectives of victims and perpetrators, tracing its development from earliest times as rite of atonement to the modern forms of the avoidance of blame and the victimisation of innocents. The differences and similarities between the ancient and modern forms are examined to reveal that despite the modern logical explanations of behaviour, the mystical element in the form of superstition is still evident.
Directly responding to the Diploma in Social Work's call for texts on anti-discriminatory practiceScapegoatsshould become essential reading for all social workers in training and practice. Will also be a invaluable resource for all professionals engaging in groupwork and group workers in training.

Bibliography: (pages 204-207) and index.

Part I: Ancient ritual -- Origins: Tyndale's world and its continued use -- Purification and propitiation: scapegoating founded in the belief systems of society -- Sin-eaters, whipping boys and fall guys: the role of 'victim' and the changes to it brought about by modifications of the belief system -- Part II: Social behaviour: examples and analysis -- Scapegoating as public behaviour: the process of scapegoating -- Scapegoating as social behaviour: examples of the process of scapegoating in families, organisations and groups -- Victims: examples of victimisation -- Part III: Theories and explanations -- Attempts at understanding: the process -- Attempts at understanding: the victim. What makes an individual or a group become the victims in the scapegoating process? -- Part IV: Management -- The management of scapegoating -- The resolution of scapegoating -- Rite, ritual or survival strategy? Final considerations.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

  • Part I Ancient Ritual (p. 1)
  • Chapter 1 Origins Tyndale's Word and Its Continued Use (p. 3)
  • Chapter 2 Purification and Propitiation (p. 13)
  • Chapter 3 Sin-Eaters, Whipping Boys and Fall Guys (p. 31)
  • Part II Social Behaviour (p. 49)
  • Chapter 4 Scapegoating as Public Behaviour (p. 51)
  • Chapter 5 Scapegoating as Social Behaviour (p. 70)
  • Chapter 6 Victims (p. 85)
  • Part III Theories and Explanations (p. 107)
  • Chapter 7 Attempts at Understanding: the Process (p. 109)
  • Chapter 8 Attempts at Understanding: the Victim (p. 135)
  • Part IV Management (p. 149)
  • Chapter 9 The Management of Scapegoating (p. 153)
  • Chapter 10 The Resolution of Scapegoating (p. 170)
  • Chapter 11 Rite, Ritual or Survival Strategy? (p. 190)
  • Bibliography (p. 204)
  • Index (p. 208)

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Tom Douglas has over forty years' experience of working with groups and for many years worked as a freelance groupwork consultant.