It’s a simple enough question isn’t it: “Are You Good or Evil?

But at the same time it’s an extremely complex, controversial and deeply unsettling question and one that leading scientists are now beginning to shed light in finding the answer.

The actual nature of ones ‘goodness’  is reflected in several beliefs:

One common belief  is that  ’good’ is based  upon a natural love bonding and affection that begins at the most earliest stage of a persons human development whilst another is that goodness grows from an individuals knowledge of understanding what is ‘good’.

And there are many reasons for evil in this world:

Some believe that it is a product of an imperfect human condition while others may argue that it is based upon an ignorance of truth, lack of human value or even learned as a consequence from what a person is taught.

Tonight on BBC2 is a fascinating programme in which the Horizon team go to meet researchers who have studied some of the most prolific and terrifying people behind prison bars: “Psychopathic Killers.”

Respected scientist Professor Jim Fallon has a big shock waiting for him when he discovers that he had the profile of a psychopath but goes on to explain the reason why he didn’t turn out to be a killer which also hold key lessons for all of us.

Discovering whether you are good or evil also meets a scientist who truly believes he’s discovered the moral molecule and a man who is using this new understanding to rewrite our ideas of crime and punishment.

Discover “Are You Good or Evil” tonight on BBC2 at 9pm.