Review of A B C's of scapegoating

Abstract

Reviews the pamphlet A B C's of scapegoating by Gordon W. Allport (1944). The reviewer states that the work is predominantly a cooperative enterprise, representing the contributions of the seminar in psychological problems of morale at Harvard University. In addition to the foreword, there are eight brief chapters, a postscript, and a bibliography of 27 titles. The main body of the pamphlet presents in a lucid, richly illustrated manner the following aspects of scapegoating: What is scapegoating? motives in scapegoating; sources of race prejudice in the child; types of scapegoaters; the victim of scapegoating; forms of scapegoating; dangers of scapegoating in wartime; and methods of combating scapegoating. The aim of the pamphlet is to further understand the dangers of scapegoating to the end that constructive forces in America might be focused upon the reduction of the disintegrating effects of one form of misplaced aggression, practical rather than theoretical interpretations guide the reader. According to the reviewer, the wealth of illustrations of scapegoating, the simplicity with which fundamental assumptions are expressed, and the directness of applications commend this pamphlet to many readers. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved)