Discovery Channel takes viewers beyond the police tape and deep into the minds of the world′s most notorious, most merciless and most deadly criminals with an in-depth scientific look at the world′s MOST EVIL, premiering Thursdays at 10:00 PM (ET/PT), beginning July 13. Columbia University′s Dr. Michael Stone uses his "scale of evil," which has never before been profiled on television, to rank and measure the evil found within the infamous. Forensic psychiatrists, neurologists and psychologists use scientific evidence to unravel the inner workings of criminal masterminds. MOST EVIL is part of Discovery Channel′s forensics programming, with additional series and specials airing on Thursday nights through the fall.
Forensic psychiatrist Michael Stone examined, researched and faced down hundreds of killers to develop a hierarchy of "breathtakingly horrible" acts, listing 22 categories of evil. Accounting for the motive, method and madness of each evildoer, the categories range from those who kill in self- defense (Category #1) to jealous psychopathic lovers (Category #9) to serial torturers and killers (Category #22) - the most evil on Stone′s scale.
In each episode, Stone profiles some of the MOST EVIL minds of all time - including Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader (the "BTK" killer), Aileen Wuornos, Tommy Lynn Sells and Jeffrey Dahmer - and ranks each killer on his scale. Stone′s analysis provides clues as to what genetic, environmental and neurological factors may drive a person to kill and measures who is truly evil versus someone who commits evil acts.
The eight-episode series MOST EVIL includes rarely seen archival footage of courtroom and news statements and exclusive up-close interviews with convicted killers from behind prison bars. Leading experts in psychology and neurology will probe the dark corners of the human mind, interviewing subjects and using MRIs, brain scans, EEGs and other tests to examine the effects of telling lies on the brain, measure how people experience emotion and search for patterns of behavior and background that might identify the recipe that makes a killer. Personality traits such as egocentricity, lack of empathy or remorse, and even charm are highlighted as possible ingredients.
Upcoming episodes will present analysis of infamous liars, cold-blooded and psychotic killers, murderous women and partners in crime. Some experts have estimated that one in every 100 people can be considered a "psychopath," but not all psychopaths are prone to kill. What drives seemingly normal men and women to such horrific acts? Experts hope their scientific analysis can pinpoint such tendencies toward evil in hopes of one day preventing it.
