The Group Valency Constitution, the Dominant Basic Assumption, and the Scapegoating Phenomenon
著者
Med HAFSI
(Meddo hafushi)
社会学部
版
publisher
出版地
奈良
出版者
奈良大学
上位タイトル
奈良大学紀要
(Memoirs of the Nara University).
Vol.26号,
(1998.
03)
,p.135-
149
識別番号
ISSN
03892204
抄録
The present study constitutes an attempt to investigate experimentally the conditions leading to the phenomenon of scapegoating. Applying Bion' s concepts of basic assumptions, and valency, it was hypothesized that 1) scapegoating was more likely to occur in groups operating under the basic assumption of fight as defined in the present study, 2) that the scapegoated members display a negative attitude towards the group that predisposes them to the scapegoat role. Based on their valencies as measured by the Reaction to Group Situation Test Nara University (RGST-Nu) , the subjects (N=100) were divided into 20 homogeneous (having a same valency) groups of 5 members each. There were thus 4 fight groups, 4 pairing groups, 4 dependency groups, and 4 cooperation tendency groups (groups not characterized by any type of valency) . The results supported the first hypothesis that fight groups were more likely to resort to scapegoating than other groups. Moreover, the results revealed also that, as hypothesized, the scapegoated member displayed in fact the most negative attitude towards the group. One of the implications of the present study was that scapegoating is not a unilateral aggressive relationship (one person oppressing another passive and innocent person) , but an interactional group phenomenon. Therefore, for a preventive intervention to be effective, it should take into consideration both the scapegoating group and its culture, and the scapegoat and his/her latent hostility towards the group.
