From the Clinician and Researcher Who Coined the Term Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP:

Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) can happen in any type of dysfunctional family system, not just a narcissistic one. Learn about the impact my research on FSA is having around the world. Most recently, I will be named as a co-author of the first peer-reviewed quantitative research study on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), conducted by Research Fellow Dr. Kartheek Balapala (MD/Psych). This research project on medical students in the copperbelt University of Zambia will be published by 2025. – Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP

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Here, you are believed…

In my work in the area of psycho-emotional (‘invisible’) abuse and related trauma, I support child victims and adult children survivors. I believe what victims and survivors tell me and give them the space to share their stories, free of judgment. Escaping the Gordian knot of family dysfunction and scapegoating abuse can seem impossible, particularly when abuse dynamics are insidious, invisible, and subtle. But it is not impossible to recover from the ravages of FSA. How do I know? Because I don’t just research on and teach others about this form of abuse: I’m an FSA adult survivor, too. – Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP

“Rebecca C. Mandeville’s pioneering research on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA) and its effects marks the establishment of a new – and critically important – area of study within the field of Family Systems. At last, survivors of this devastating phenomenon have a name and terms to describe what happened to them in their family and a means of moving forward in their healing and recovery process.” – Joshua Mitchell, PhD

Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA)™ is a term that specifically describes a unique systemic phenomenon identified by the research of Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP. Email Rebecca to submit a permissions request if you plan to use this term in your own work beyond the allowed 100-word quote.

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Do You Relate to Any of the Following Experiences?

Despite the devastating consequences to adult survivors, scapegoating in families remains an under-researched, poorly understood dysfunctional family process. If you’ve experienced any of the below, you may be the ‘identified patient’ or ‘scapegoat’ in your dysfunctional or narcissistic family system:

• Your family has a ‘story’ about you (what I call the ‘scapegoat narrative’) and via this ‘story’ (which is typically promoted and repeated within your nuclear and extended family) your character is distorted; your ‘faults’ are magnified and emphasized; and your poor treatment by those who scapegoat you, malign you, and psycho-emotionally abuse you within your family-of-origin is (in their minds) justified.
• You have been rejected, shamed, blamed, or bullied by family members. Any feelings you have about this are dismissed, diminished, or denied.
• You’ve been the victim of a family ‘smear’ campaign designed to discredit you, defame you, or destroy your reputation.
• You’ve been called a “liar”; a “faker”; or “crazy” by one or more members of your family.
• You’ve been called “too sensitive”; “dramatic”; or “difficult” by one or more members of your family.
• Your accomplishments and successes are ignored and go unacknowledged by your family.
• You feel frustrated, angry, or confused due to feeling rejected, shamed, blamed, or bullied by your family-of-origin.
• You have considered cutting ties with one or more members of your family to protect your mental and emotional health.
• Your family members imply you “fake” or “make up” injuries and illnesses.
• You suffer from anxiety, depression, impostor syndrome, and/or betrayal trauma and complex trauma (C-PTSD) symptoms.
• You experience ‘triggers’ and are emotionally activated around your family-of-origin, which typically is a result of long-standing complex trauma (C-PTSD) symptoms and what I have named Family Scapegoat Trauma (or FST) symptoms.

Child victims and adult survivors of family scapegoating abuse (FSA) continue to be deprived of public recognition and validation. The reality of this form of systemic abuse must be acknowledged within our Court systems, Educational systems, and Mental Health systems worldwide so FSA survivors can get the support they need, are entitled to, and deserve. – Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP

About My Introductory Book on Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA), Rejected Shamed and Blamed (and where to purchase it)

“Thank you, Rebecca, for writing one of the most accurate descriptions of what it is really like being a scapegoat. Your pioneering, candid research about those who suffer from scapegoating begs the need for specialized therapy that specifically addresses scapegoats who experience life-long trauma and issues related to family scapegoating. Very few in the psychology field have studied this topic in depth. Watching my mom scapegoated by her own mother who is in a position of authority including mom’s siblings shows me there is a real need for more specialized therapists like you.” – Amazon Reviewer

“Excellent – First of its kind! Despite so many impressive things I’ve done in my life, I’m still so rooted in the self-hatred that my family taught me. It’s hard to move out of that false narrative. But I’m going to re-read this book again and again, and if there is any justice in the universe, perhaps the second half of my life will look better than the first. Thank you Rebecca!” – Amazon Reviewer

Purchase This Book on Amazon (U.S.) (Amazon has the Kindle, Paperback, and Hardcover version) – OR you can purchase it INTERNATIONALLY at These Online Book Retailers (including Amazon).

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New Foreign Translation Coming Soon – Dutch translation of Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed!

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It’s been rewarding to see the interest in my work on family scapegoating abuse (FSA) growing steadily since I published Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed nearly three years ago. There can understandably be resistance on some people’s part in regard to accepting the fact that some processes related to FSA may at times be unconscious; however, it has been my experience that this is a critical piece of information for adult survivors of FSA who grew up in a dysfunctional, versus narcissistic, family system, as it validates the reality of their having been harmed by this form of insidious ‘invisible’ abuse.

In Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed, you’ll learn about:

1. Why family scapegoating behaviors qualify as psycho-emotional abuse in highly dysfunctional and narcissistic families.
2. Aspects of my research findings on what I eventually named ‘Family Scapegoating Abuse’ (FSA) and more recently, ‘Family Scapegoat Trauma’ (FST) to educate both adult survivors and interested Mental Health professionals on this poorly understood dysfunctional family phenomenon.
3. How a systemic defense mechanism known as the  Family Projective Identification Process (which is similar to a shared family ‘psychosis’) can fuel family scapegoating abuse in DYSFUNCTIONAL family systems. In NARCISSISTIC family systems, scapegoating can be fueled by a narcissistic family power-holder who controls and creates the ‘scapegoat narrative’ used to demean and diminish you within your nuclear and extended family – and beyond. The pathological Family Projective Identification Process may or may not be at play in a narcissistic family system.
4. Why family scapegoating abuse adult survivors should be clinically assessed for complex trauma (C-PTSD) symptoms and engage in trauma-informed treatment pathways under the guidance of a licensed, trauma-certified Mental Health professional with Family Systems training.
5. The inter-play between family scapegoating abuse; the family projective identification process; intergenerational trauma; toxic shame; betrayal trauma; and complex trauma (C-PTSD).

Scroll down to learn more about Family Scapegoating Abuse

What Readers of Rejected, Shamed, and Blamed Are Saying…

“As a clinical social worker, I enthusiastically recommend this book!” – Amazon reviewer

“Very good book on an oft-misunderstood family dynamic.” – Amazon reviewer

“Life-changing read! I am 64 y/o and have had an adult lifetime of therapy, counseling, spiritual guidance, support groups, and/or self-help reading to try and put to words or find definition of what I knew I felt, or why I responded the way I did, or how I could ‘see’ how I was ‘viewed’ or treated by family. This little book – with its easy read and understandability – answered so many of my questions and gave me more insight into the why’s of it all than any other resource, ever. I am more at peace with myself after reading this book – which I will re-read and, am sure, refer to often in the future – than I ever have been. I seriously feel I can now move forward with new comprehension of my family’s dynamics and sense of self. I HIGHLY recommend this book; can’t say enough good things about it.“ – Amazon reviewer

Thank you thank you for writing this!!! As a therapist I could rave about this book for ages and have recommended it to all my clients. Having also gone through these experiences personally, I can also attest to the amount of validation this book offered that has helped me heal more so than many many therapy sessions. It was clinically sound, well researched and trustworthy in its empirical sources and framework. I just wish I could get my family to read it so they could see the damage that they’ve done! Though the book explains really well why that won’t ever be possible. An absolute must read!! – Amazon reviewer

“My psychologist gave me your book to read. I finally could understand what happened to me in my family and now know what to do to recover from it. Your book literally saved my life!” – YouTube Subscriber

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Scapegoat Support Group for FSA Recovery

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Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA)™ is a term that specifically describes a unique systemic phenomenon identified by the research of Rebecca C. Mandeville, LMFT, CCTP. Email Rebecca to submit a permissions request if you plan to reference FSA beyond the allowed 100-word quote.

This website provides free public education on the phenomenon known as Family Scapegoating Abuse (FSA). It is not attached to the licensed Psychotherapy services provided by this website’s owner, Rebecca C. Mandeville.