Scapegoating is the act of blaming a person or group for something they did not do, typically to deflect blame from the actual person or party responsible. It is a hostile tactic often employed to characterize an entire group of individuals according to the unethical or immoral conduct of a small number of individuals belonging to that group. Scapegoating can take on a group-on-one form, meaning that a group of people singles out and blames one person for a problem.

Scapegoating has its origins in a ritual of atonement described in chapter 16 of the Biblical Book of Leviticus, in which a goat (or ass) is released into the wilderness bearing all the sins of the community, which have been placed on the goats head by a priest. The negative effects of scapegoating can be significant, from damaging a persons self-esteem to harming relationships and causing prejudice within society or community.

Scapegoating is a destructive behavior that can be used by people who display traits of narcissism, often taking the form of bullying. In management, scapegoating is a known practice in which a lower staff employee is blamed for the mistakes of senior executives. Scapegoating has occurred throughout history to numerous groups, often triggered by a distressing event and as a means to justify discrimination or mass murder.