scapegoats challenge collective psyche

The scapegoat, often individual who are believed to defy the group’s norms or taboos, bears a noticeable trait of an outsider — an attribute that attracts attention to them. Scapegoat is frequently selected at random, yet invariably seen as distinct. Their actions create an impression of posing a threat to the group’s unity. Gradually, they are perceived as malignant entities or grotesque outsiders who have transgressed or dismantled the social ties that bind the group.

Scapegoats project an aura of menace upon the unity of the collective.