Following the 9/11 attacks,some outraged people lashed out at innocent Arab-Americans.This venting of hostility can best be explained in terms of
A) the other-race effect.
B) the just-world phenomenon.
C) the frustration-aggression principle.
D) scapegoat theory.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The venting of hostility towards innocent Arab-Americans following the 9/11 attacks can be best explained by scapegoat theory. Scapegoat theory refers to the tendency of people to blame an innocent group or individual for actions they did not commit, in order to alleviate their feelings of anger and frustration towards the actual perpetrator. In this case, Arab-Americans became the scapegoats for the 9/11 attacks, despite the fact that they had nothing to do with it.

Following the 9/11 Attacks,some Outraged People Lashed Out at Innocent