Final answer:
Scapegoats are individuals or groups unjustly blamed for issues not of their making, as elucidated by the scapegoat theory. This phenomenon is seen throughout history with dominant groups displacing their aggression onto subordinate groups, such as the persecutions during the Black Death and the case of Sacco and Vanzetti.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Scapegoating in Social Contexts
Scapegoats in the context of social or group dynamics do not escape nor undertake the crime; rather, they are unjustly blamed for it. The scapegoat theory, rooted in Dollard's (1939) Frustration-Aggression hypothesis, posits that dominant groups, when experiencing frustration and aggression, often displace their aggression onto less dominant, subordinate groups. Historical examples include Hitler's blame on the Jewish population for Germany's problems and the frequent scapegoating of immigrants in the United States. Further illustrating scapegoating, the medieval persecution of Jews during pandemics such as the Black Death serves as a stark example of unjust accusation and violence based on unfounded claims.
Options like the prisoner's dilemma highlight individual vs. group interests, where the 'best' social outcome would be for parties to cooperate, yet self-interest leads them to accuse one another, resulting in a collectively worse scenario. In the historical case of Sacco and Vanzetti, two immigrants were scapegoated and convicted despite inconsistent witness accounts and lack of direct evidence, reflecting the biases and prejudices prevalent in the criminal justice system.
Regarding choice 5 from the given options, the correct answer is b: dominant groups blame subordinate groups for their problems. This concept is instrumental in understanding the motivations behind scapegoating and how it creates systemic injustices within societies.