The question of the polygraph?

[Outlook]

Aren't they supposed to work by measuring increased heart beat in someone likely not to be telling the truth?

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, pupil dilation, eye movement, skin conductivity, all sort of things.  However, the results depend on the reactions to "control questions" and previous training, psychological states and conditioning and self-belief even psychopathy can confuse the results.  As the test itself is an abnormal condition then the above physical changes will be elevated to start with.  Self-inflicted minor pains or muscle cramping during the "control questions" reduce the difference between the "control" and "actual" questions.

So if these things are "reliable" then why are they not in public use so we can dispense with trials, juries, investigations, appeals and just go from "rounding up the usual suspects", one simple test and then straight to the death penalty?  If they boast 96% accuracy then that is better than any justice system.  In fact the machine could just "fry" the victim at the end of the "reliable" test.

Be popular in Texas.

[ferryman]

Increased heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, pupil dilation, eye movement, skin conductivity, all sort of things.  However, the results depend on the reactions to "control questions" and previous training, psychological states and conditioning and self-belief even psychopathy can confuse the results.  As the test itself is an abnormal condition then the above physical changes will be elevated to start with.  Self-inflicted minor pains or muscle cramping during the "control questions" reduce the difference between the "control" and "actual" questions.

So if these things are "reliable" then why are they not in public use so we can dispense with trials, juries, investigations, appeals and just go from "rounding up the usual suspects", one simple test and then straight to the death penalty?  If they boast 96% accuracy then that is better than any justice system.  In fact the machine could just "fry" the victim at the end of the "reliable" test.

Be popular in Texas.

Thank you for that.

Interesting ...

[Mrs. B]

Thank you for that.

Interesting ...

Yes, agree. Very interesting.

[AnneGuedes]

 If they boast 96% accuracy then that is better than any justice system.

But it's no justice system !

[Outlook]

What has Guantanamo torture got to do with polygraph ?

in reply #100 I referred to torture being probably more reliable than the Polygraph.

Both are demonstrably flawed concepts.

[Redblossom]

in reply #100 I referred to torture being probably more reliable than the Polygraph.

Both are demonstrably flawed concepts.

yes they are, do truth drugs work? Or is that a myth?

[Outlook]

yes they are, do truth drugs work? Or is that a myth?

As far as I know there are no such things as "Truth Drugs" but there are some drugs that have an inhibition lowering effect.  However, can you ever rely on anything that changes someone's mental state?

The only "Proper Truth Drug" I know of is moderately high qualities of alcohol but the after effects can be unpleasant ranging from violent sickness and headaches to unwanted pregnancies and social diseases and worse still - unwanted marriage.

Again alcohol usually induces extreme self-delusion of physical beauty, susceptibility to verbal rubbish and a delusion of being able to sing and dance to showroom standards.

Here is the Wiki on Truth Serums.  It seems some Governments have messed with various things but mostly it does not work, is largely fictional, and highly unreliable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_serum

In other words it is more Hollywood bollocks.

[sadie]

As far as I know there are no such things as "Truth Drugs" but there are some drugs that have an inhibition lowering effect.  However, can you ever rely on anything that changes someone's mental state?

The only "Proper Truth Drug" I know of is moderately high qualities of alcohol but the after effects can be unpleasant ranging from violent sickness and headaches to unwanted pregnancies and social diseases and worse still - unwanted marriage.

Again alcohol usually induces extreme self-delusion of physical beauty, susceptibility to verbal rubbish and a delusion of being able to sing and dance to showroom standards.

Here is the Wiki on Truth Serums.  It seems some Governments have messed with various things but mostly it does not work, is largely fictional, and highly unreliable.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truth_serum

In other words it is more Hollywood bollocks.

Very interesting. 

Thank you Outlook

[Mr Moderator]

Can we keep to the topic under discussion.

[Mr Gray]

Surely if the McCanns took a polygraph and passed it would be assumed that those conducting the polygraph were "in on it"

[Carana]

Surely if the McCanns took a polygraph and passed it would be assumed that those conducting the polygraph were "in on it"

Particularly if the test was offered by someone involved in daytime TV entertainment...

[Eleanor]

We would certainly see all of the evidence about how unreliable Polygraphs are. 
Let's face it, they are never going to believe that The McCanns are innocent because a Polygraph said so, especially since it is useless in Court.
No, they done it, alright.

[stephen25000]

We would certainly see all of the evidence about how unreliable Polygraphs are. 
Let's face it, they are never going to believe that The McCanns are innocent because a Polygraph said so, especially since it is useless in Court.
No, they done it, alright.

......and what would those like you say, if dare I say it, it showed the Mccanns lying.

Time for a GM scratch around the ear.

[Mr Moderator]

This just underlines the futility of taking a polygraph test because in the final analysis it is a lose lose scenario.   It they passed it with flying colours it would be called a fluke, lucky or they managed to fool it.  If they were to fail it they would be damned and for ever doomed to being guilty.

The polygraph is very dangerous and very false.

[DCI]

This just underlines the futility of taking a polygraph test because in the final analysis it is a lose lose scenario.   It they passed it with flying colours it would be called a fluke, lucky or they managed to fool it.  If they were to fail it they would be damned and for ever doomed to being guilty.

The polygraph is very dangerous and very false.