Final answer:
The correct answer is option d. Hate group members most likely scapegoat racial minorities, reflecting a pattern where dominant groups displace aggression onto vulnerable populations. Historical examples include the persecution of Jews in Nazi Germany and recent discrimination against immigrants and Asian Americans in the United States.
Step-by-step explanation:
Hate group members are most likely to scapegoat racial minorities. Scapegoat theory, a concept developed from Dollard's Frustration-Aggression theory, suggests that dominant groups displace unfocused aggression onto subordinate groups. Throughout history, we have witnessed numerous instances where racial minorities were marginalized and blamed for societal issues. An egregious example is Adolf Hitler's demonization of the Jewish population, blaming them for Germany's economic and social troubles.
In the United States, immigrant groups have often been victimized in a similar manner. Laws have been passed that disenfranchise immigrants, reflecting the dominant group's desire to pin their problems on a more vulnerable population. The mass media frequently emphasize overt discrimination incidents, which overshadow the systemic issues such as poverty, poor education, and environmental hazards that impact disadvantaged groups more heavily, such as the case highlighted by the media during Hurricane Katrina.
Hate crimes can flare up quickly against specific groups, as seen with the increase in violence against people of Asian descent erroneously associated with the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The continuous cycle of scapegoating reveals a pattern where those in power or with majority status target groups based on race, ethnicity, religion, or other minority statuses.