And when they fall short, they feel like they have failed. The antithesis of the family hero is the scapegoat. The scapegoat is the child who acts out for attention, and in doing so accepts the family's blame for its problems. The acting out might include abuse of alcohol or other drugs, conduct disorders, truancy or delinquency or poor school performance. In the classroom, the scapegoat often gets into trouble because he or she is aggressive and doesn't accept authority well.
Scapegoats act upon their feelings of anger, hurt and rejection.
Lost children do not draw attention to themselves because they do not want to burden the family. Because they are so often overlooked, they feel lonely, depressed and rejected. They frequently have difficulty connecting with others and prefer to be alone. The lost child may be perceived by other youngsters as anti-social. The mascot is most frequently the youngest child.