1. Developed by psychiatrists - 22-level "gradations of evil"
Depravity scale
Developed by psychiatrists - 22-level "gradations of evil"

2. Definition: profoundly immoral and malevolent
Evil – what is it really?
Definition: profoundly immoral and malevolent
For decades before 2005, doctors avoided the use of the word "evil" on the grounds that it crossed the line between clinical and moral judgment

3. developed to measure evil
Development
In 2005 American psychiatrists developed the depravity rating scale
developed to measure evil
to help courts decide whether convicted murderers should face execution or just imprisonment

4. What is it?
Two studies of the criminal personality have concluded that "evil" should be used to describe the most vicious criminals – and that it can be measured.

5. How does it work?
Factors taken into account when “evil” is considered:
If the killer had-
prolonged the duration of a victim's suffering
inflicted an "exceptional degree of physical harm"
imposed such suffering on a victim that they demonstrate "panic, terror, and helplessness
victim was a child

6. List from least to most “evil”
Killed in self-defense and does not show psychopathic tendencies
Jealous lovers – egocentric and immature – not psychopaths
Willing companions of killers, aberrant personality, poor impulse control, has anti-social traits (sociopath)
Killed in self defense, been extremely provocative toward victim

7. Traumatized, desperate people who kill abusing relatives and others – but lack psychopathic traits, generally remorseful
Impetuous, hot-headed murdered, no psychopathic features (sociopath)
Highly narcissistic but no distinct psychopathic traits, but with a psychotic core –kill those close to them (jealousy is usually a motive)

8. Non-psychopathic people, with smoldering rage who kill when rage is ignited (sociopath)
Jealous lovers with psychopathic features
Killers of people who were “in the way” or who killed witnesses (egocentric/narcissists but no distinct psychopathic traits)
Psychopathic killers of people “in the way”
Power-hungry psychopaths who killed when they were “cornered”

9. Killers with inadequate, rage filled personalities who “snapped” (sociopath)
Ruthless, self-centered psychopathic schemers
Psychopathic “cold-blooded” spree killers or multiple murderers
Psychopaths committing multiple vicious acts
Sexually perverse serial murderers (males that rape as primary motive, killing is done to hide evidence) – no torture

10. Torture-murders with murder the primary motive
Psychopaths driven to terrorism, subjugation, intimidation and rape (stops short of murder)
Torture-murderers, with torture as primary motive, but in psychotic personalities
Psychopaths preoccupied with torture in the extreme, have not committed murder
Psychopathic torture-murderers with torture as the primary motive.