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Scapegoats at Work: Taking the Bull's-Eye Off Your Back by John M. Dyckman & Joseph A. Cutler 2003. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers. 180 pages, Hardback, $42.95
Intended Audience: A, B, C, E, F, G, H, I
Major Headings from Table of Contents:
The Costs of Scapegoating; The Story of the Scapegoat; Groups, Troops, and Scapegoats; Self, Psyche, and Scapegoats; The Scapegoat in the Cubicle; Idealists, Realists, and Scapegoats; How Are Scapegoats Born? Ditching the Bull's-Eye: Recognizing That You Are Being Scapegoated; Machiavelli in the Lunchroom; The Road Back: Recovering from Scapegoating; Combating the Culture of Scapegoating
How is the book most useful for its intended audience?
For people who have struggled in the workplace and wondered why they've consistently received the undesirable work tasks, or have been the recipient of their boss' wrath, or have even been fired, this book offers insight and explanations as to the organizational practice of scapegoating. The book offers a detailed explanation for why some people are targeted as scapegoats - both what they may have done to contribute to their demise, as well as the organizational dynamics that may have played a role in their situation. With this backdrop, the reader is able to "dissect" what happens to cause scapegoating in the workplace and then take steps to ensure it doesn't happen to them. Or, if it has already happened, how to change their mindset and behavior and get themselves back to a level playing field.
The top five things you learned from reading this book:
I learned that scapegoating is a practice that has its roots in biblical times and that it has prevailed throughout our history, and amazingly, become engrained in our culture. It was eye opening to make the connection between its practice during our earlier history and how it is practiced today. Even with the advances in our society, not much has changed!
I learned that people exhibit a variety of behaviors that can set them up for becoming a scapegoat and that there are five types of scapegoats, each type behaving in such a way as to cause them to contribute to the...