ABSTRACT
Scapegoating belongs to a family of concepts drawn from psycho-dynamic theory that attempt to chart and explain the ways in which feelings seem to travel from one person to another. A better understanding the phenomena of scapegoating enables group members to question their own emotions and behaviour. The “good goat” is less evident in Personal Development groups, but the belief that underpins the scapegoat story is always present. Transference is a particular sort of parcel. Systemic thinking underlines the parallel processes and interrelationships of internal and external, individual and group, group and context, context and society. One of the tasks will be to encourage the various internal group members to communicate with each other. Everyone needs their voice to be heard in the internal group as much as the external group. The group is seen as a “hall of mirrors” within which members both act as mirrors for each other and can catch sight of themselves and others from multiple perspectives.
