Chapter I - Introduction To Polygraph
Chapter I - Introduction To Polygraph
CHAPTER I
INTRODUCTION TO POLYGRAPH
Objectives:
For as long as there are liars and deceitful persons, people will constantly find ways to
detect lies and discover the truth. Various methods have been developed using science and
technology to determine if people are telling the truth. Such fields include physiology, psychology,
psychiatry, chemistry, pharmacology, physics, engineering, electronics, and computer science.
Although scientifically based, most of these methods are not yet fully recognized by the courts as
legal means of proving the truth. In fact, most information developed using scientific lie detection
methods are not admissible evidences in court despite their expediency in criminal investigation.
In his earlier book System der Kriminalistiks, Gross emphasized that a large part of the
criminalist’s work involves battle against lies. The criminalist has to discover the truth and must
fight the opposite , which is lies and deceit. The criminalist encounters the opposite at every step
of his investigation (Trovillo, 1939)
Some primitive lie detection methods were customs based on physiological principles.
Oriental people, for example, determine who are saying the truth and who are saying lies by
requiring suspected offenders to chew dry rice. While this was a simple task for innocent suspects,
those who were lying had difficulty in chewing. This practice cling into the belief that fear inhibit
the digestive process, including salivation. Thus, deceptive suspects have difficulty in chewing
rice and spitting out crushed wet rice because of fear. Fear that their lies will be discovered
prevents the production of their saliva. (Trovillo, 1939).
There are various methods of detecting lies and deceits. Lie detection methods available
today maybe grouped in four ways (Llamas Jr., 2002). It includes the following:
Dr. Pedro Solis (1993), in his book Legal Medicine provided a more elaborated
classification of lie detection methods available today.
1. Methods involving the use of scientific devices that record psychophysiological response:
a. Word Association Technique (WAT)
b. Psychological Stress Evaluation
c. Polygraph Method (or Polygraphy)
2. Methods involving the use of substances that “inhibit the inhibitor”
a. Administration of “truth serum”
b. Narcoanalysis or Narcosynthesis
c. Intoxication with alcohol
3. Hypnosis
4. Scientific Observation
Module: Lie Detection Techniques (3/1)
5. Scientific Interrogation
According to Dr. William J. Yankee from the Department of Defense Polygraph Institute
(DoDPI) in the United States, polygraph examination is one of the most complex
psychophysiological examinations ever developed. (Matte 1996)
In advance countries, the following are preferred descriptions of lie detection through
polygraph examination.
References:
King-eo, Chester (2006). Introduction to Specific Lie Detection. Unpublished notes from the University of
the Cordilleras: Baguio City
http://www.truthverifier.com.html
http://wwwpolytest.org/polyfaq.htm