The Scapegoat: Unmasking Family Blame and Rebellion

In a dysfunctional family system, the scapegoat is often blamed for what everyone else is unwilling to face. They may be called “the problem,” but often they are the one expressing the anger, pain, and tension the rest of the family is trying to hide. Instead of looking at the deeper issues in the family or marriage, everything gets pinned on one child. Over time, that child can begin to feel like the outsider, the black sheep, the one who doesn’t belong. But sometimes the scapegoat isn’t the source of the problem. Sometimes they are the honest expression of the pain the whole family has been carrying.