The ancient ritual of selecting and banishing a goat stained with red pigment represented collective sins. Today, a scapegoat is often held accountable for an organization’s failures or shortcomings, sometimes for political or strategic reasons. Scapegoating can be an act of self-preservation, absolving individuals of personal responsibility. An ancient ritual described in the Old Testament […]

Scapegoating is blaming one person or group for problems while ignoring others’ responsibilities. It can be irrational and emotional, while properly assigning blame uses facts and logic. The term comes from an ancient Jewish ceremony. Scapegoats can be used defensively or offensively, and can lose power and status. Scapegoating is the practice of blaming major […]