Becoming a Walkaway: A Buddhist and Depth Psychological Approach to Scapegoating

• In Event: 29.090 - Roundtable Session 9
  In Roundtable Session: 29.090-23 - Buddhism, Taoism, Confucianism, and Education in the 21st Century

Abstract

In Buddhist and depth psychological practice attention is commonly placed on individual rather than group psychological development. Scapegoating is marked by psychic contagion where both sides blame the other. Rather than being responsible for the consequences stemming from one’s thoughts and actions, one projects and names them in an other whereby, s/he is condemned, ostracized and in the worst cases waged war against. Scapegoating is ubiquitous in our schools and culture. To address the critical intersection between personal shadow and group consciousness, something not addressed within education, a case is made for the walkaway within the scapegoating dynamic. The walkaway offers a third way – that of a teacher, healer or shaman – the conscious scapegoat.

Author

• Alexandra Fidyk, University of Alberta