"Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing" delves into the psychological and social mechanisms that allow ordinary individuals to commit heinous acts such as genocide. Author James Waller explores the processes that can transform everyday people into perpetrators of mass violence, examining historical and contemporary examples of such phenomena. He emphasizes that these acts are not solely driven by a few evil individuals but can emerge from a broader societal context that normalizes violence.
The book investigates the conditions under which mass killings occur, focusing on aspects like group identity, obedience to authority, and the dehumanization of victims. Waller argues that understanding these factors is crucial to preventing atrocities in the future. By analyzing case studies and psychological experiments, he illustrates how ordinary moral barriers can be eroded, leading individuals to participate in collective violence.
Ultimately, "Becoming Evil" serves as both a cautionary tale and a call to action. It urges readers to recognize the potential for violence within themselves and their communities. Waller's work underscores the importance of fostering empathy and vigilance in order to combat the conditions that lead to mass atrocities, promoting a society that actively works to prevent the emergence of evil rather than dismissing it as a problem of the past.