Final answer:
Some social scientists do claim that frustrated populations might target the weak and vulnerable, a concept supported by Scapegoat Theory and the Davies Theory of Revolution, which describe the displacement of aggression and the conditions under which revolution may occur.
Step-by-step explanation:
It is indeed a claim made by some social scientists that frustrated populations may turn against the weak and vulnerable, rather than directing their response against the sources of injustice. This phenomenon is closely related to theories such as Scapegoat Theory, which posits that dominant groups displace aggression onto subordinate groups, with historical examples ranging from Hitler's Germany to the targeting of immigrants in the United States. Poverty, social unrest, and the manipulation of aggrieved populations by populist figures contribute to situations where this displacement occurs. Additionally, James C. Davies' Theory of Revolution suggests that revolutions tend to occur not from the most impoverished, but from a segment of society that has experienced a sharp decline from previously met expectations, thereby pointing to a more complex social dynamics at play.