Polygraph Tests - Benefits and Challenges

Panthayil Babu

doi:10.7336/academicus.2019.19.10

Authors

Panthayil Babu Higher Colleges of Technology Madinat Zayed Colleges, Abu Dhabi, UAE

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7336/academicus.2019.19.10

Abstract

This research describes the working, benefits and challengers of polygraph tests. Polygraph tests are lie-detecting devices that help ascertain individuals’ honesty based on physiological indicators. The heart rate/blood pressure, respiration, and skin responses are the three indicators measured in the test to assess honest/deceitful behavior. The underlying assumption behind the working of polygraph tests is that the autonomic responses of dishonest individuals are distinctively different from those of honest people because the liars will be more nervous than truth tellers. Control Question Test (CQT), Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT) or Concealed Information Test (CIT) and Neuroscience-Based Advanced Polygraph Tests are the important types of polygraph tests used today. Polygraph tests are used to detect truthfulness of individuals in such important fields as crime investigation departments, national security agencies, and business and industry. However, accuracy of polygraph tests and ethical issues associated with the tests are highly debated.

Keywords:

polygraph, autonomic responses, truthfulness, dishonesty, misclassification

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References

Ben-Shakhar, G., Bar-Hillel, M., & Lieblich, I. (1986). Trial by polygraph: Scientific and juridical issues in lie detection. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 4(4), 459- 479. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier
Brown, T., & Murphy, E. (2010). Through a scanner darkly: Functional neuroimaging as evidence of a criminal defendant’s past mental states. Stanford Law Review, 62(4), 1119-1208. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/ docview/224079289?
Gibson, M. (2001). The truth machine: Polygraphs, popular culture and the confessing body. Social Semiotics, 11(1), 61-73. doi:10.1080/10350330120010966.
Grubin, D., & Madsen, L. (2005). Lie detection and the polygraph: A historical review. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 16(2), 357-369. doi:10.10 80/14789940412331337353.
Happel, M. D. (2005). Neuroscience and the detection of deception. Review of Policy Research, 22(5), 667-685. doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.2005.00166.
Jensen, M. L., Meservy, T. O., Burgoon, J. K., & Nunamaker, J. F. (2010). Automatic, multimodal evaluation of human interaction. Group Decision and Negotiation, 19(4), 367-389. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10726-009-9171- 0.
Kaste, M. (2015). Trial of polygraph critic renews debate over tests’ accuracy. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2015/01/02/371925732/trial-ofpolygraph-critic-renews-debate-over-tests-accuracy.
Kumar, S. (2012). Impact of galvanic skin response on emotional intelligence and psychological wellbeing of criminals. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 463-466. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1614160474?
Meijer, E. H., Smulders, F. Y., Johnston, J. E., & Merckelbach, H. J. (2007). Combining skin conductance and forced choice in the detection of concealed information. Psychophysiology, 44(5), 814-822. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2007.00543.
Metzinger, T. (2006). Exposing LIES. Scientific American Mind, 17(5), 32-37. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier.
Mitchell, G. (2003). The polygraph and lie detection. Security Management, 47(7), 158. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/231172659?
Saxe, L. (1994). Detection of deception: Polygraph and integrity tests. Current Directions in Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell), 3(3), 69-73. doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10770416.
Saxe, L., & Ben-Shakhar, G. (1999). Admissibility of polygraph tests: The application of scientific standards post-daubert. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 5 (1), 203-223. DOI: 10.1037//1076-8971.5.1.203.
The truth about lie detectors (aka Polygraph tests). (2004). American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/research/ action/polygraph.aspx.
Walczyk, J. J., Schwartz, J. P., Clifton, R., Adams, B., & et.al. (2005). Lying personto-person about life events: A cognitive framework for lie detection. Personnel Psychology, 58(1), 141-141+. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/ docview/220137704
White, D. Jr. (2001). Ask me no questions, tell me no lies: Examining the uses and misuses of the polygraph. Public Personnel Management, 30(4), 483-493. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215929568?

References

Ben-Shakhar, G., Bar-Hillel, M., & Lieblich, I. (1986). Trial by polygraph: Scientific and juridical issues in lie detection. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 4(4), 459- 479. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier

Brown, T., & Murphy, E. (2010). Through a scanner darkly: Functional neuroimaging as evidence of a criminal defendant’s past mental states. Stanford Law Review, 62(4), 1119-1208. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/ docview/224079289?

Gibson, M. (2001). The truth machine: Polygraphs, popular culture and the confessing body. Social Semiotics, 11(1), 61-73. doi:10.1080/10350330120010966.

Grubin, D., & Madsen, L. (2005). Lie detection and the polygraph: A historical review. Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 16(2), 357-369. doi:10.10 80/14789940412331337353.

Happel, M. D. (2005). Neuroscience and the detection of deception. Review of Policy Research, 22(5), 667-685. doi:10.1111/j.1541-1338.2005.00166.

Jensen, M. L., Meservy, T. O., Burgoon, J. K., & Nunamaker, J. F. (2010). Automatic, multimodal evaluation of human interaction. Group Decision and Negotiation, 19(4), 367-389. doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10726-009-9171- 0.

Kaste, M. (2015). Trial of polygraph critic renews debate over tests’ accuracy. Retrieved from http://www.npr.org/2015/01/02/371925732/trial-ofpolygraph-critic-renews-debate-over-tests-accuracy.

Kumar, S. (2012). Impact of galvanic skin response on emotional intelligence and psychological wellbeing of criminals. Indian Journal of Positive Psychology, 3(4), 463-466. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/1614160474?

Meijer, E. H., Smulders, F. Y., Johnston, J. E., & Merckelbach, H. J. (2007). Combining skin conductance and forced choice in the detection of concealed information. Psychophysiology, 44(5), 814-822. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8986.2007.00543.

Metzinger, T. (2006). Exposing LIES. Scientific American Mind, 17(5), 32-37. Retrieved from Academic Search Premier.

Mitchell, G. (2003). The polygraph and lie detection. Security Management, 47(7), 158. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/231172659?

Saxe, L. (1994). Detection of deception: Polygraph and integrity tests. Current Directions in Psychological Science (Wiley-Blackwell), 3(3), 69-73. doi:10.1111/1467-8721.ep10770416.

Saxe, L., & Ben-Shakhar, G. (1999). Admissibility of polygraph tests: The application of scientific standards post-daubert. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 5 (1), 203-223. DOI: 10.1037//1076-8971.5.1.203.

The truth about lie detectors (aka Polygraph tests). (2004). American Psychological Association. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/research/ action/polygraph.aspx.

Walczyk, J. J., Schwartz, J. P., Clifton, R., Adams, B., & et.al. (2005). Lying personto-person about life events: A cognitive framework for lie detection. Personnel Psychology, 58(1), 141-141+. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/ docview/220137704

White, D. Jr. (2001). Ask me no questions, tell me no lies: Examining the uses and misuses of the polygraph. Public Personnel Management, 30(4), 483-493. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/215929568?