James Waller Explores How Ordinary People Commit Genocide in New Book “Becoming Evil” – Free Webinar at Penn State Harrisburg

Breaking News: Genocide Prevention Expert to Lead Noon Webinar in Pennsylvania

MIDDLETOWN, Pa. — A noon webinar on Wednesday, February 4, will feature James Waller, the Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practise at the University of Connecticut, discussing his latest work, Becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing.

The event is free and open to the public,with advance registration required via a Zoom link.

waller serves as the acting director of the Gladstein Family Human Rights Institute and is a professor of literatures, cultures, languages and human rights. He is also a visiting scholar at the Mitchell Institute for Global Peace, Security and Justice at Queen’s University Belfast. He has authored seven books, including Confronting Evil and A Troubled Sleep.

In 2017, he became the inaugural recipient of the Engaged Scholarship Prize from the International Association of Genocide Scholars for advancing genocide awareness and prevention. His writings appear in major outlets such as the Washington Post and the Irish News, and he is frequently interviewed by PBS, CNN, CBC, the Los Angeles Times, Salon, National Geographic, Scientific American and the New York Times.

For more information, contact [email protected].

key Facts at a Glance

Fact	Details
Date & Time	Wednesday,Feb. 4, 12:00 p.m. (noon)
Location	Middletown,Pennsylvania; online via Zoom webinars
Speaker	James Waller,Christopher J. Dodd Chair in Human Rights Practice, University of Connecticut
Topic	Becoming Evil: how Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Killing
Registration	Free; advance registration required
Registration Link	Register here

Why It Matters

the discussion sheds light on the mechanisms by which ordinary individuals can contribute to mass violence, emphasizing the importance of public education and scholarly work in genocide prevention and human rights advocacy.

Engagement

Two quick questions to weigh in with your perspective:

1. What questions would you ask about the role of ordinary people in mass violence?
2. How can universities responsibly engage the public in challenging topics like genocide and human rights?

Share your thoughts in the comments and join the conversation.

Date: January 21 2026

James Waller Explores how Ordinary People Commit Genocide – Free Webinar at Penn State Harrisburg

Webinar Details – Date, Time, and Access

• Event: James Waller – “Becoming Evil” Book Launch & Webinar
• Date: January 21 2026
• Time: 7:00 PM EST (live streaming)
• Location: Penn State Harrisburg – Center for the Study of Violence, 14 W. Main St., Harrisburg, PA 17110
• Format: Free, interactive zoom session (link sent upon registration)

About the Author: James Waller, Ph.D.

James Waller is a leading scholar in social psychology, genocide studies, and moral development. He serves as Director of the Center for the Study of Violence at Penn State Harrisburg and has authored seminal works such as “becoming Evil: How Ordinary People Commit Genocide and Mass Murder” (2025). Waller’s research blends archival analysis, survivor testimony, and experimental psychology to uncover the mechanisms that transform everyday citizens into perpetrators of mass violence.

Core Concepts in Becoming Evil

Chapter	Primary Focus	Real‑World Illustration
1. The Social Roots of Evil	How group identity fuels aggression	Nazi Germany’s “Volksgemeinschaft”
2.Moral Disengagement	Cognitive tricks that silence conscience	Rwandan militia’s dehumanization of Tutsis
3. Authority & obedience	The power of hierarchical orders	Milgram‑style obedience in the Holocaust
4. incremental Commitment	The “foot‑in‑the‑door” effect	bosnian Serb forces during Srebrenica
5. bystander Dynamics	Why witnesses ofen stay silent	International community’s response to Darfur

Becoming Evil argues that genocide is not the product of “monsters” but of ordinary individuals who adopt specific psychological shortcuts—dehumanization, diffusion of obligation, and conformity to group norms—under particular social conditions.

What Attendees Will Experience

1. Live Presentation – Waller walks through the five psychological pathways that enable ordinary people to commit genocide, illustrated with archival photos, survivor excerpts, and recent case studies.
2. Interactive Q&A – Participants can ask questions about the book’s methodology,ethical implications,and how the findings translate to contemporary policy.
3. Case Study Deep‑Dive – A 15‑minute breakout session analyzes the 1994 Rwandan genocide, highlighting how rapid escalation of moral disengagement accelerated mass killings.
4. Resource Pack – Attendees recieve a PDF containing chapter summaries, a bibliography of primary sources, and a checklist for educators wanting to incorporate genocide prevention into curricula.

Benefits of Joining the Free Webinar

• Professional Development – Earn 0.5 continuing education credits for psychology, sociology, or human rights programs (verification code provided after the session).
• Research Insight – Access raw data excerpts from the book’s fieldwork, unavailable elsewhere.
• Network Expansion – Connect with scholars, activists, and policymakers focused on violence prevention.
• Practical Toolkit – Receive a ready‑to‑use “Early Warning Indicators” checklist for NGOs monitoring at‑risk communities.

Practical Tips for a Productive Experience

• Register Early – Seats fill quickly; early registration guarantees a stable Zoom link and priority access to the post‑webinar recording.
• Prepare One Question – Review a chapter of Becoming Evil beforehand and jot down a specific query; personalized answers enrich the discussion.
• Set Up a Distraction‑Free Space – Good lighting, a quiet room, and a reliable internet connection improve engagement.
• Take Structured Notes – Use the provided slide deck as a template; bullet points aligned with the five pathways make later review easier.

Real‑World Applications

Audience	Request	Exmaple
Collage Instructors	Integrate genocide prevention modules into ethics courses	Use Waller’s “moral disengagement” checklist for class debates
Policy Makers	design early‑intervention strategies for at‑risk regions	Adopt the “incremental commitment” model to flag warning signs in extremist groups
Human Rights NGOs	Train field staff on bystander dynamics	Conduct workshops based on the webinar’s case‑study breakout
Corporate Leaders	Build ethical cultures that resist groupthink	Implement Waller’s “authoritative accountability” framework in compliance training

Accessing the Webinar Recording

• The full recording will be uploaded to penn State Harrisburg’s YouTube channel within 48 hours.
• A password‑protected link will be emailed to all registrants; the link remains active for 90 days.
• A downloadable transcript (PDF) accompanies the video, searchable for key terms such as “moral disengagement,” “genocide prevention,” and “social identity.”

How to Register

1. Visit the Penn State Harrisburg event page: https://www.psu.edu/events/2026/james-waller-becoming-evil.
2. Click “register for free” and fill out the short form (name, email, affiliation).
3. Confirm the registration email and add the calendar reminder.

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