UNIVERSITY OF ANTIQUE

SIBALOM, ANTIQUE
COLLEGE OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE EDUCATION
Chapter 1: INTRODUCTION & NEED-TO-KNOW CONCEPTS OF POLYGRAPH

STARTING ACCURATELY

Learning Objectives
When you have completed this chapter, you
should be able to:
• Understand the history of how the
concept of polygraph examination came
about and its significance to law
enforcement administration.
• Identify and differentiate different kinds
of lie and types of liars

Have you ever been lied for or cheated by your babe, honey & langga? Or are you curious on
how to catch your JOWA when he or she is making excuses coz they forgot to greet you a “HAPPY
WEEKSARRY”? (wala kang jowa, huwag feeler!) But if you do (at least pretend), Hi there and
welcome to FOREN 5! Lets us learn the basics on how to spot liars and lies with the use of our
senses and ultimately for FORENSIC SCIENCE, the use of Polygraph machine.
This is an important skill you need to be an effective criminologist for “lies are the most
important tool for human survival” (aminin! you lied more than you can count your fingers
multiplied by 10 x). Hence, experienced offenders are very hard to detect when they are lying or
not when under investigation or interrogations. This is a life changing (lovelife)
skill and there is a science to it, so let’s learn while being bugged by our conscience.

STIMULATING LEARNING

According to DR. HANS GROSS “A LARGE

PART OF CRIMINALIST’S WORK IS NOTHING
MORE THAN A BATTLE AGAINST LIES”. What
does he mean about these words?
Write your thoughts in the comment section in our
google classroom.
 INCULCATING CONCEPTS

WHAT IS POLYGRAPHY?
It is the scientific method of detecting deception with the use of polygraph instrument. This
is the new name of lie detection.

WHAT IS POLYGRAPH?
The term “polygraph” originated from the two Greek words poly which means “many” and
graph which means ‘writings”. Collectively the term means “many writings”. This refers to the
manner in which selected physiological activities are simultaneously collected and recorded. The
polygraph is a recorder of psycho – physiological changes occurring within the examinee’s body
as the polygraph examiner asks a series of test questions. It is also known as TRUTH VERIFIER.

WHAT IS A LIE DETECTOR?

It is the popular but misleading name of the polygraph. The instrument was so named
because it makes various ink recordings of a person’s body functions which will be interpreted by
the polygraphist to determine whether the subject has been lying or not.

HISTORY OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLYGRAPH

1970 – THOMAS JEFFERSON was the first man known to use the word polygraph
to describe one of his inventions, which could be made to rewrite repeatedly words or messages.
A polygraph is a device that produces a copy of a piece of writing simultaneously with the
creation of the original, using pens and ink.
the great breakthrough come at the end of 19th century when the well-known Italian
scientist and “FATHER OR CRIMINOLOGY” CESARE LOMBROSO in 1885 started
experimenting with pulse and blood pressure changes in order to establish verification of truth in
answer given to questions by actual criminal suspects. He used an instrument in is experiments
called hydrosphymograph procedure, a water pressure recording those measured changes in
blood pressure and pulse rate together.
1895 – ANGELO MOSSO, student of Lombroso was the first to use a physical device to
demonstrate the changes in pulse and blood volume to scientifically document the findings. He
studied fear and its influence on the heart.
1897 – STICKER studied deception with the use of galvanometer and was convinced of
the relationship between reaction to the skin’s resistance to electricity and emotional changes.
 1907 – VERAGUTH, one of the scientists to use the word association test using
galvanometer. Both sticker and veraguth applying guilty knowledge theory. The first to use the
word “psycho galvanic skin reflex” and believed that the electrical phenomena are due to the
activity of sweat glands.
1907 – DR. JAMES MACKENZIE, a medical doctor and a famous heart specialist wo first
describe the instrument entitled “the ink polygraph” that was published in the british medical
journal in 1907. “the ink polygraph is intended solely for medical purposes, to be fundamentally
the same as the blood pressure – pulse and respiration recorders used for lie detection purposes.
1914 – VITTORIO BENUSSI, studied inhalation and exhalation ratio as means of
detecting truth and deception using pneumograph component.
1915 – DR. WILLIAM MARSTON, “FATHER OF POLYGRAPH” devised blood
pressure test the were conducted during questioning of the individual.
1918 – HAROLD BURTT, determined the respiratory and systolic blood pressure changes
were valuable indications of deception.
1921 – JOHN LARSON who worked for the Berkeley California police department,
developed an instrument that measured respiration and cardiovascular changes simultaneously.
1926- LEONARD KEELER, an American criminologist who contributed in the
development of modern polygraph. He developed polygraph instrument recorded relative changes
in blood pressure and pulse rate and measured respiration. He devised the kymograph that pulled
the chart paper at a constant speed and included the gsr to the other components to complete the
machine.
In the middle of 19th century, dr. Hans gross the father of criminalistics defined “search
for truth” as the basis and goal of all criminal investigations. He asserted that a large part of
criminal’s work is nothing more than a battle against lies.
1950 – JOHN REID developed the reviewed control question consisting of a known lie
incorporated into relevant/irrelevant test. He also discovered that guilt – complex test administered
to overly responsive subjects.
1961 – CLEVE BACKSTER developed a computerized polygraph system or cps of a
standardized quantification system of the physical data recorded on polygraph charts which was
introduced during 1963. He also developed the Backster zone comparison test incorporating
relevant/irrelevant questions.
1965- RICHARD ARTHER, was the first polygraphist to record simultaneously on a
regular chest and abdominal breathing patterns and founded the journal of polygraph science in
1966, the oldest of polygraph publications.
1969 – BIOMETRICS INC. OF WALTAM MASSACHUSETTS, under research contract
with us air force developed a cardio activity monitor (cam)designed to obtain from the wrist or
thumb the same recording in chart pattern obtained with the conventional sphymograph using the
cardio medical cuff normally placed against the brachial artery at the inside of the upper arm.
1969 – RICHARD GOLDEN, presented a paper at the annual seminar of the American
polygraph association at Houston, Texas , regarding his experiments using existing control
question techniques but requiring the subject to answer each question twice, the first time truthfully
and the second time with a lie.
1973 – SILVESTRO F. REALI, independently developed the Reali’s positive control
technique which requires the subject to answer the question twice as in Golden’s technique. But
opposite the sequence of golden.
1980 – DR. JOHN C.KIRCHER AND DR. DAVID C. RASKIN, the stoelting pcs uses
propriety algorithms developed by scientific assessment technologies based on thirteen years of
their research conducted at the university of Utah.

CONCEPTS OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

1. Used to test an individual for the purpose of detecting deception or verifying the
truthfulness of his statements.
2. It is done by recording identifiable physiological reactions of the subject, such as; blood
pressure, pulse rate, respiration and skin resistance.
3. The effectiveness of the polygraph in recording symptoms of deceptions based on the
theory that “a conscious mental effort on the part of a normal person to deceive causes
involuntary physiological changes that are in effect a body’s reaction to an imminent
danger to its well-being”.

OBJECTIVES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION

1. Obtain additional information leads to the facts of the case/offenses.
2. Ascertain if a person is telling the truth.
3. Locate fruits or tools of the crime and whereabouts of wanted person.
4. Identify other persons involved (accomplices of crime)
5. Obtain valuable information from reluctant witness.
6. Eliminate innocent suspects.

PRINCIPAL USES OF POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION.

1. Aid in investigating criminal incidents and issues.
2. Speeds up the process of investigation.
3. Eliminates innocent suspects.
 4. Pre – employment screening.
5. Honesty test (periodic test)

WHAT IS THE SIGNIFICANCE OF UNDERSTANDING LIE DETECTION?

In every criminal investigation, the truth must be established to ensure proper prosecution
of offenders. Criminal investigators must exert all effort to determine lying not only on the part of
the suspect but as well as everyone involved in the criminal act – witnesses, victims, etc.

GENERAL KINDS OF LIE.

1. White lie or benign lie – these are the kind of lies used to protect or maintain the harmony
of friendship or any relationship.
2. Pathological lie – made by persons who cannot distinguish right from wrong.
3. Red lie – involves political interests and motives because this is a part of communist
propaganda strategy. This is prevalent in communist countries or communist infested
nations. Example: propaganda, brain washing and black mail via espionage and treason.
4. Black lie – a lie which accompanies pretensions and hypocrisies, intriguing to cause
dishonor or discredit one’s good image.
5. Malicious or judicial lie – an unjustifiable lie intended purely to mislead or obstruct
justice.

OTHER KINDS OF LIE

1. LIE OF FABRICATION – a lie told when someone submits a statement as truth, without
knowing for certain whether or not it actually is true. A statement which is made up or a
misrepresentation of truth.
2. Bold – faced lie – is one which is told when it is obvious to all concerned that it is a lie.
Example: a child who has chocolate all over his mouth denies that he has eaten any
chocolate.
3. Lie of omission – done by omitting an important fact, deliberately leaving another person
with misconception.
4. Lie – to – children – often a platitude which may use euphemism, which is told to make
an adult subject acceptable to children.
5. Noble lie – one which would normally cause disorder if it were uncovered. Often told to
maintain law, order and safety.
6. Emergency lie – a strategic lie when the truth may not be told because it may harm a third
party.
7. Perjury – an act of lying under oath or affirmation in court of law.
 8. Bluffing – pretending to have a capability or intention which one does not actually possess.
Takes place in the context of a game.
9. Jocose lies – those which are meant in jest, and are usually understood as such by all
present parties.
10. Contextual lies – one can state part of truth out of context, knowing that without complete
information, it gives a false information. Likewise, one can state accurate facts, yet deceive
with them.
11. Promotion lies – advertisements often contain statements which are incredible.
12. Direct denial – an act of denial that creates an emotional sense of disturbance between
what is true and the attempted deception.
13. Lie of minimization – a lie that an individual will accept that something has occurred but
downplays the implication.
14. Lie of exaggeration – a lie often used to exaggerate things for the hope of obtaining some
advantage.

TYPES OF LIARS
1. Panic liars – one who lies in order to avoid consequences of confession, they are afraid of
embarrassment and it is a serious blow to their ego.
2. Occupational liar – are practical liars and lies when it has a higher pay off than telling a
truth.
3. Tournament liars – those who lie and are excited by the challenge of not being detected.
4. Psychopathic liars – the most difficult type of liar, this person has no conscience and
shows no regret for dishonesty and no manifestation of guilt.
5. Ethnological liars – are those who taught no to be a squealer.
6. Pathological liars – are person who cannot distinguish what is right and what is wrong
due to their sick mind. These are insane individuals.
7. Black liars – are those who always pretends what he is and what he thinks of himself.

Theory of Lie Detection

“When a mentally normal person tells a lie, physiological changes occur within his or her
body that could be recorded by polygraph machine and evaluated by polygraph examiner”
it must be recognized that there is no such instrument that could detect lies. The popular
name, “lie detector”, given to polygraph is somewhat misleading.
The so called “lie detector” is simply due to certain physiological activities of the body.
These physiological activities are constantly operational as long as the person is alive.
WHAT IS THE THEORY BEHIND A LYING PERSON?
The polygraph technique uses the principle that the bodily functions of a person are
influenced by his mental state. The physiological changes accompanying deception are capable of
being recorded, measured and interpreted with reasonable certainty.
Telling a lie is usually an emotional experience. A conscious act of lying causes the mind
of a person, which produces an emotion of fear and anxiety, manifested by fluctuations in pulse
rate, blood pressure, breathing and respiration. These fluctuations are automatic, self - regulating
and beyond conscious control because they affect the functioning or internal structures that prepare
the body for emergency.
The underlying psychology includes:
1. The lying person fears detection, causing physiological changes to take place in his body.
2. Fear of detection must be experienced by the subject; otherwise, no physiological changes
will occur.
3. A person “tunes in” that which indicates trouble or danger by having his sense organs and
attention for a particular stimulus, and then “TUNES OUT” that is which is of a lesser
threat to his self-preservation or general wellbeing.
4. In a series of questions during a polygraph test containing relevant and control questions,
the lying subjects will “tune in” on the most intense relevant questions and may not be
materially affected by other weak relevant questions.
5. The truthful subject will direct his attention to the control question wherein he consciously
knows he is deceptive and “tune out” the relevant ones.

The role of ANS in the polygraph examination.

The Autonomic Nervous System or ANS is the one responsible for regulating mechanism
that corrects the slightest deviation from a particular standard within very fine limits such as
oxygenation of the blood, levels of potassium, sodium, calcium and other essential chemical
substances. This found at the Centre of the brain and its central control is in the hypothalamus
– a group of nerve cells of the brain that reflexes those which we cannot control consciously
such as our heart beat, pulse rate, increase and decrease in blood pressure and the expansion
and constriction of the arteries are governed by the autonomic system.
Sympathetic nervous system
When activated prepares the body for the fight or flight by causing the adrenal glands to
secrete hormones known as epinephrine and norepinephrine so that the blood will be
distributed to those areas of the body where it is most needed to meet the emergency, such as
the brain and the larger muscle group.
• Epinephrine, also called adrenaline, hormone that is secreted mainly by the medulla
of the adrenal glands and that functions primarily to increase cardiac output and to
raise glucose levels in the blood. Epinephrine typically is released during acute stress,
and its stimulatory effects fortify and prepare an individual for either “fight or flight”
• Norepinephrine, which is a second hormone secreted by the adrenal medulla that
increases heart rate, blood pressure, and cardiac output and blood glucose levels.

Parasympathetic nervous system

It is functionally antagonistic to the sympathetic nervous system. Its role is to maintain the
homeostasis of the body necessary for normal functioning. It follows to re – establish the chemical
balance of the body.
EXTERNAL OBSERVABLE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF LIES/DECEPTIONS.
Signs of deception are generally categorized into two; the verbal & non - verbal clues.
One method of detecting these signs is through by observation.

GENERAL SYMPTOMS OF DECEPTION:

• Stammering and swearing to GOD he didn’t commit the offense.
• Pointing his guilt to somebody else.
• Refuses to answer the questions through alibis and excuses.
• All the time absent minded.
• Always requesting for repetition of question.
• Often asks counter questions and counter queries.
• Blushing paling or profuse sweating.
• Protrusion of eyeballs, rolling of eyeballs, elevation of upper eyelids, excessive winking of
the eyes, failure to look the inquirer straight to the eyes & squinting of the eyes.
• Twitching of the lips.
• Excessive activity of Adam’s apple.
• Shivering of nose and nostrils.
• Peculiar monotone of the voice.
• Often asks permission to go to the comfort room.
• Fidgeting, tapping or drumming of fingers on the chairs or other surfaces.
• Swinging of legs or one leg over the other.
• Pulsation of artery in the neck.
• Incoherence, trembling and sweating of the whole body.
VERBAL CLUES:
• Methods of responding to questions
• Length of time before giving a response
• Repetition of question
• Fragmented or incomplete sentence
• Being overly polite
• Oaths
• Clarity of response
• Use of words
• Assertiveness
• Inconsistencies
• Slip of the tongue
• Tirades
• Pauses
• Speed of speech
• Monotone of the voice
NON – VERBAL CLUES:
• Emblems – expressions made with the body.
• Manipulators – usual behaviour of touching one’s self.
• Illustrators – non – verbal behaviours that assist the listener to better understand the verbal
communication.
• Adapters – non - verbal behaviours with no purpose in helping the verbal communication.

AREAS T NOTE WHEN ASSESSING THE NON- VERBAL CLUES:

• General posture
• Head and Face
• Eyes
• Arms and hands
• Sense arousal gestures
• Feet and Leg

USUAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED BY POLICE INVESTIGATORS DURING

INTERROGATION.

1. The determination whether subject is telling the truth regarding the crime under
investigation.
2. Obtaining admission or confession from a suspect after his guilt has been established.
3. Reluctance of fearful witnesses and informants who are in possession of helpful
information to disclose them to the interrogator.
 APPLYING UNDERSTANDING

NAME OF STUDENT ACTIVITY DATE OF SCORE

NUMBER ACTIVITY
1
TITLE Defining Basic Concepts and Terminologies
OBJECTIVE/S At the end of this activity, the students should be able to describe or define the
given terms or words.
PROCEDURES/ Define or give the concepts/ meaning of the following:
INSTRUCTIONS

1. Polygraphy –

2. Polygraph –

3. Lie Detection –

4. Deception –

5. Polygraphist –

6. Subject –

7. Admission –

8. Confession –

9. White Lie –

10. Malicious Lie –

Laboratory Schedule Scoring Rubric

Signature of Instructor 10 Points each for every correct definition

0 Points for wrong answer
 EVALUATING LEARNING

Will be given on a proper schedule through our Google Classroom.

ENRICHMENT

Please watch these videos for further understanding about polygraph:

Watch the first part only. ( https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1LwbYnHFLA )

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJMrwYiE9ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po_DCBGExP4

REFERENCES:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1LwbYnHFLA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJMrwYiE9ko
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=po_DCBGExP4