How to Identify a Scapegoat

The majority of dysfunctional families will have a child that fits the role of scapegoat. However, scapegoats can be found in all settings, especially the workplace. The following will teach you how to identify a scapegoat, maybe you are the scapegoat? maybe your spouse is. Identifying the scapegoat is the first step in distributing equal (or at least earned) blame in your relationship.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A place to observe family, work, marital, interactions
• Your keen observation skills

1. 

   Learn what to look for. In the case of a child look for the following.
   
   - Who is identified as the problem child by the family and siblings?
   - Which child absorbs the blame for family problems and conflicts
   - The child who is blamed for things they obviously have no control over
   
   For an adult, such as coworker, you can look for these same signs in the context of work, with co worker taking the place of siblings and bosses taking the place of the parents

2. 
   http://www.problogger.net/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/identify-what-you-have1.jpg

   Identify if the individual has any of the symptoms of being a scapegoat
   
   - After being blamed for things they have no control over they learn that they have no control over their lives and therefore they:
   - Act out in anger through aggressive acts such as criminal behaviors, or refusing to participate in school
   - They fulfill the prophecy of others by becoming the problem that they were accused of being.
   
   Because scapegoats will eventually act out it might be easy for you to look at the individual and think "well, he/she is to blame because they are a trouble maker." It is important to remember that you need to look at past events to determine if they have always been a trouble maker or rather they were the scapegoat and are now living out others prophecy

3. 

   Interview the individual you think might be the scapegoat
   - does the individual feel trapped? hopeless?
   - does the individual feel that something is really wrong with them? that they are somehow a flawed human being?
   - does the individual feel blamed for things out of their control?

4. 

   After you have looked, identified and interviewed and individual use your reasoning skills to determine if this individual is in fact a scapegoat.

Tips & Warnings

• Research shows that these individuals, especially children, tend to have very negative life outcomes (particularly those that aggressively act out). It is important to help the individual regain a sense of control over their self and their life. Teaching the individual ways in which they CAN control their situation will be critical. I would strongly suggest you help the individual seek out professional help to better their chances of overcoming their dysfunctional family or work setting.
• This is not medical advice, I am a counseling student, not a licensed counselor.

Resources

• Click here for more information on counseling

[Merriment]

on 5/21/2009 This is very good information on the scapegoat. Unfortunately, I was my mom's scapegoat and managed to remain in that position as I often hear the blame for the actions of someone else. I'm still working on putting the blame where it belongs... on the one who made the decisions and should be responsible for such!

[momtchr]

on 5/20/2009 This is such an important article. Children who are treated as scapegoats often grow up with feelings of shame and low self-esteem. Thank you for the great article and I hope many people will read it and think about what they may be doing! 5* recommend

[ljbinkop]

on 5/20/2009 No one wants to be the scapegoat. Thanks for the interesting article!