1) Summarize the means by which the polygraph works as a lie detector. What two major problems call its accuracy into question?
A lie detector is an electronic device that records an individual’s physiological arousal when asked yes or no questions. There are two types of questions that the examiner will ask the individual in order to measure the individual’s arousal. The first types of questions are questions relevant to the crime being investigated. The second types of questions are called control questions. These questions are unrelated to the crime. Asking these questions allows the examiner to determine if the individual shows more physiological arousal when asked questions relating to the crime rather than questions that are non-related. In other words, if the individual becomes more aroused when answering the non-related questions, he or she is judged as innocent. In contrast, if the individual becomes more aroused when asked about the specific crime, he or she is judged as guilty (Kassin, Fein & Markus, 2010).
The questions are only one part of describing how the lie detector works. The examiner has to have a way for the arousal to be noticed. The lie detector works by placing sensors on several body parts. For example, rubber tubes are strapped around the upper body in an effort to measure the individual’s breathing. Cuffs to measure the individual’s pulse rate are put on the arms. Finally, electrodes, which detect perspiration or activity of the sweat glands, are placed on the fingertips. Once all the sensors are in place, the signals are converted into a visual presentation for the examiner to analyze (Kassin, Fein & Markus, 2010).
The lie detector was designed to detect any signs of deception. In other word...
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...ample when a child is interviewed or questioned it is important to eliminate suggestibility because the child will confuse the truth with fantasy. In turn, using a non-bias and objective approach to interviewing or questioning will help the children recall the correct memory (Loftus, Leitner & Berstein, 2011).
Works Cited
Kassin, Fein, & Markus. (2010). Social psychology with study guide (8th ed.). Cengage learning: Mason, OH
Loftus, E.F., Leitner, R.L., Berstein, D.M. (2011). Reconstructive memory. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/reconstructive-memory/
Reconstructive memory: Confabulating the past, simulating the future. (2006). Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www.google.com/search?q=neurophilosophy%3A+constructive+memory&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en
In “The Interview” by Douglas Starr, He talks about the different techniques they use when interrogating suspects to determine whether the suspect is lying. One technique they use is called the Reid Technique and that is when
One of the last types of ways investigators are coached to detect deception is in the behavioral attitudes of a person being interviewed such as being unconcerned or over anxious (Kassin, 2005). The success rate of looking for these cues are very successful in telling if an individual is being deceitful and has surpassed any laboratory tests conducted on the subject. The laboratory test however did reveal some interesting facts. The research showed that people who had training and experience did not score better than the control group who received no training. In fact all individuals scored at the chance level with the people who had training scored just above chance or at the chance level. To check if special training in the detection of deception was more accurate a study ...
The rates for false-negative classifications, on the other hand, have been much higher, especially in the field, with up to 58% of undetected guilty subjects (Elaad, 1990). However, the study referred to is critically discussed, as the CIT was carried out under subpar conditions and substantial differences between laboratory settings and real-life situations exist. The perception and memory of crime related details is different as optimal conditions that can be provided in laboratory settings are not given in the field. Various factors may interfere with the test, such as that some relevant information might be overlooked especially during strong excitement. In experimental setups information to which subjects are exposed to can be controlled. In order to address this issue, only items that seem plausible and recognized by most people (at least 80%), whether they possess crime knowledge or not, should be used (Lykken, 1981). Therefore, to receive lower rates on false-negative classifications, the CIT conditions in the field should duplicate the laboratory settings as closely as possible. Another point of criticism was the use of a single measure as an indicator of deception. Studies have shown that combined physiological measurements amount to superior results over individual measurements (Gamer, Verschuere, Crombez & Vossel,
Human memory is flexible and prone to suggestion. “Human memory, while remarkable in many ways, does not operate like a video camera” (Walker, 2013). In fact, human memory is quite the opposite of a video camera; it can be greatly influenced and even often distorted by interactions with its surroundings (Walker, 2013). Memory is separated into three different phases. The first phase is acquisition, which is when information is first entered into memory or the perception of an event (Samaha, 2011). The next phase is retention. Retention is the process of storing information during the period of time between the event and the recollection of a piece of information from that event (Samaha, 2011). The last stage is retrieval. Retrieval is recalling stored information about an event with the purpose of making an identification of a person in that event (Samaha, 2011).
In Laurence Armand French Ph.D. and Thomas J. Young Ph.D.’s article The False Memory Syndrome: Clinical/Legal Issues for the Prosecution talks about memory recall being an unreliable form of evidence in the Criminal Justice System. French and Young state that hypnosis and lie detector tests are a misconception because “the cognitive interpretations of the emotional/autonomic aspects of the central nervous (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems are not true indicators of reality,” (p. 38).
Atkinson, R.C. & Shiffrin, R.M. (1968). Human memory: A proposed system and its control process.
The second stage of memory processing is storage. Aronson et al. (2013) defines storage as the process by which people store the information they just acquired. Unfortunately, memories are affected by incoming information through alteration or reconstruction. This phenomenon is referred to as recon...
...pporting details. At the conclusion of the article, the authors share their thoughts on how it might be virtually impossible to determine when a memory is true or false. I also like their willingness to continue the investigations despite how difficult it might be to obtain concrete answers.
Heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity are monitored during the lie detector test, those responses can be controlled. Steve Elias writes, “Some people are so divorced from morality or a guilty conscience that they may test honest – because they are really good
Garry, M., & Palaschek, D. L. (2000). Imagination and Memory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 6-9.
A polygraph test can record a person's breathing rate, pulse, blood pressure, perspiration and other significant physiological changes that suggest a person is lying, but it should not be used as evidence in a court of law because it does not provide reliable proof of a person's physical reaction to the stress of lying.
The investigator uses information gathered during the first phase to tailor interrogation for the specific subject. Walters describes the interrogator's task of “breaking the cycle of deception” during the interrogation; this includes
Memory is the tool we use to learn and think. We all use memory in our everyday lives. Memory is the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences. We all reassure ourselves that our memories are accurate and precise. Many people believe that they would be able to remember anything from the event and the different features of the situation. Yet, people don’t realize the fact that the more you think about a situation the more likely the story will change. Our memories are not a camcorder or a camera. Our memory tends to be very selective and reconstructive.
One of the components of Reid approach is training the interrogators to establish whether a suspect is lying or telling the truth by evaluating the nonverbal and verbal behavior during the interview. Many people question the effectiveness of interrogation training in assisting to discern truth from suspects. According Professor Richard Leo, people are poor in drawing accurate judgments of deception and truth (Leo, 2013). The behavior prompts used police are not diagnostic of deception, the investigators cannot differentiate false from truth denials of guilt, and yet they maintain they draw accurate
The lie detector Sometimes known as polygraph. But its not really reliable. They basically base these lie detectors off of nervousness. Like the old times. They made people lick hot irons, put rice powder in your mouth see if you would spti it out, and even try to swallow bread and cheese. (Source #3, Paragraph 2). Now days the check blood pressure, Skin resistance, pulse, and also breathing. But people can easily get nervous. They might even get nervbous to come into an office to be accused of a crime. What if your the wrong person and they come ask you to lick a iron. I bet you would be nervous too. So most people think that the shouldnt base lie detectors off of nervousness.