Polygraph Test Essay

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Polygraph tests are a controversial subject. There accuracy is well debated. It is known that they are not one hundred percent accurate, which is why they are not admissible in all courts. Polygraphs measure physical changes in the body, which are measured and recorded. Some states will allow a polygraph to be taken, as long as both the prosecution and the defendant agree that no matter what it says, the results stand. This means that a person can't agree to take the test and then try to have it thrown out of court because they don't like the results. Lie detectors are used on many reality shows on television such as "The Steve Wilkos Show", or "Maury," where they deal with adultery, child abuse, and many other topics. Even though polygraph tests are not one hundred percent accurate, they can be used as an indicator to whether someone is being truthful or not.
Lie detector tests, also known as polygraph tests, are barely ever used in criminal cases. The theory behind a lie detector test is that it is too stressful to lie, and that the test will be able to pick up stress associated, and read it. The term "polygraph" in Greek means "many writings". "Lie detectors are called polygraphs because the test consists of simultaneously monitoring several of the suspect's physiological functions -- breathing, pulse, and galvanic skin response -- and printing out the results on graph paper." (Lie Detector and Polygraph Tests: Are They Reliable?). When the results are printed out, the lie detector administrator can easily determine just when these biological responses occurred. If you show a maximum biologic reaction that lines up with the questions on the graph paper, this shows stress is presumed, and that stress indicates a lie. Sometime...

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...ve is a situation in which a person is lying and the results prove them to be telling the truth, but they are later found to be deceptive, and a false negative is the opposite: The subject was telling the truth and was proven deceptive when they really were telling the truth.
Polygraphs, to the best of our knowledge are only about ninety percent accurate. That means they are ten percent inaccurate or inconclusive, which is the cause for debate. Polygraphs can either be a blessing or a curse, depending on the circumstances. But if that person is telling the truth, there should be nothing to worry about. Polygraph tests are strictly science, and sometimes science isn’t always one hundred percent accurate, but it’s still useful to have. Polygraph testing has changed the technology of the world for everyone, and has the capability to make huge strides in the future.

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