It looks like part of Girard's ideas is that when life purpose and sense of value is based on social comparisons, and actual differences are very small, people

It looks like part of Girard's ideas is that when life purpose and sense of value is based on social comparisons, and actual differences are very small, people become very prone to thinking the worst of others. The idea is that these conditions make it hard to assume good intent and avoid assuming malice. And that harm follows the resulting judgments of evil and injustice.