Mimetic Theory 101: Session 2: How I Scapegoated the Jones'

Adam discusses the second aspect of mimetic theory: the scapegoating mechanism.

1. Has anyone ever scapegoated you? What happened?

2. Have you ever scapegoated anyone? How?

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[VoiceOfModeration]

and also, to be a perfect analogy, the other neighbours would have to have contempt for the Jones' also, and your scapegoating them would have to be more unconscious (or at the least, unwitting). To be a true manifestation of psychosocial scapegoating you wouldn't be this aware of why you're trying to undermine that family

[raventelevision]

Both are excellent point. The unconscious aspect is one of the great dangers of the scapegoat mechanism and should have been brought out in the video. Thank you for bringin it up.

Do you think that if we recognize the unconscious workings of the scapegoat mechanism, we can end scapegoating?

[pecdr]

Great video, I like your simple and yet very accurate way of examplifying Girard's basic premises. Unlike some of my friends, you seem to have understood the theory in many, if not all, of its practical consequences. Let me just suggest an anwser to your question here: No, recognizing the unconscious workings of scapegoating would not end it, because not all scapegoating is entirely unconscious: there remains a whole section of human scapegoating that's done intentionally.

[VoiceOfModeration]

I think it's an urge that as humans, who are naturally tribalistic and xenophobic, we will always have. It's another desire to repress (or "suppress")the same way that revenge is. We'll always catch ourselves wanting to do it or doing it, but we could probably repress that urge if we try hard enough

[VoiceOfModeration]

ah man, you should've brought up the Chuckchi solution, or all the stuff about twins