Scapegoats: Transferring Blame

ISBN-13: 9780415110181 / Angielski / Twarda / 1995 / 224 str.

Tom Douglas; Tom Douglas

Opis

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 practice Scapegoats should 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.

Recenzje

`Scapegoats is a shrewd and agreeably written book on an important but under-investigated topic...it should be read by everyone with an interest in society or a concern about their relations with others.' Times Higher Education Supplement

Spis treści

Part 1 Ancient ritual; Chapter 1 Origins; Chapter 2 Purification and propitiation; Chapter 3 Sin-eaters, whipping boys and fall guys; Part 2 Social behaviour; Chapter 4 Scapegoating as public behaviour; Chapter 5 Scapegoating as social behaviour; Chapter 6 Victims; Part 3 Theories and explanations; Chapter 7 Attempts at understanding: the process; Chapter 8 Attempts at understanding: the victim; Part 4 Management; Chapter 9 The management of scapegoating; Chapter 10 The resolution of scapegoating; Chapter 11 Rite, ritual or survival strategy?; BIBLIOGRAPHY; Index;

O autorze

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