Professional Documents
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Historically, early human beings have their own way of determining lie
or guilt on the part of the accused and accuser. Their common method is thru
the application of “ordeal.” An ordeal is a severe test of character or endurance,
trying course of experience, and a medieval form of judicial trial in which the
accused was subjected to physical tests, as carrying or walking over burning
objects or immersing the hand in scalding water, the result being considered a
divine judgment of guilt or innocence. It is also a term of varying meaning
closely related in the Medieval Latin “Dei Indicum” meaning “Miraculous
decision.”
The term “Trial by Ordeal” refers to the ancient method of trial in which
the accused was exposed to physical danger which was supposed to be harmless
if he was innocent. According to historians, Trial by Combat was the earliest
method of determining truthfulness and deception of a person or persons
suspected for the commission of an offense. It is the resolving of an issue
through strength of arms. For example, there are two men approach a fallen
victim, each claim he did not kill it, and asserts to be righteous and innocent of
the accusation. To prove their allegations, they engage in combat. The ideal
assumption is that the truthful individual will win through. However, the most
skilled in combat usually will become victorious and thus made him as having
the rightful claim and that the loser will be declared guilty and will suffer the
consequence thereafter.
The scenario changed very little by medieval times. The customs knights
engaged in mortal combat to decide whose lord had the right in any
controversy. While the practice was functionally the same as trial by combat,
the ethical premise was different. It was held -that the fighting skill of an
individual was not related to his truthfulness or lying. The knight representing
the truth would be victorious due to “Divine Intervention” that is, that a just
God would not allow injustice to prevail.
The next development in the search for truth was the so-called, “Trial by
Ordeal” (Keeler 1938). It was assumed once again that God would intervene on.
behalf of the innocent, that is, God would not allow any innocent individual to
be harmed. While these attempts to detect truth appeared to be laden by
religious beliefs, they were in fact based upon practical observations both
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Hypnotism
Detected deception through hypnosis was not admissible in court due to the
following:
The objective of the test is to extract from the subconscious mind of the
subject the stored contents of the mind called “memory”. During the test, a drug
called Byosine Hydrobromide is usually administered hypodermically to the
subject in repeated doses until a state of delirium is induced. When the proper
point is reached, the questions were answered by the subject truthfully. He
forgets his acts or may even implicate others. Accordingly, he will disclose
everything without evasiveness.
Of all the deception detection methods, the “Truth Serum” test is considered
most favorable and effective if all the following conditions proper to the conduct
of the test will be observed:
Narco-Analysis or Narco-Synthesis
Intoxication
The police methods sought to answer the legal investigative process are the so
called “Five Wives and One Husband” technique or the 5 W’s and 1H which
stands for WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHO, WHY and HOW. These questions
are used to gain the so called “Three Eyes” (3 I’s) of investigation which refers
to the following:
During the 19th century, Dr. Hans Gross, an Austrian - known as the
“Father of Criminalistics”, defined search for truth as the basis and goal of all
criminal investigations. He asserted that “a large part of the criminalist’s work
to nothing more than a battle against lies. He has to discover the truth and must
fight the opposite. He meets the opposite at every step”.
It was scientifically found that, when a person speaks, there are audible
voice frequencies, and superimposed on these are the inaudible frequency
modulations which are products of minute fluctuation of the muscle of the voice
mechanism. Such fluctuations of the muscles or micro tremor occur at the rate
of 8 to 14 cycles per second and controlled by the central nervous system.
During the test, the PSE Examiner asks series of questions to the subject
and records his voice utterances. The instrument filters the vocal answers create
patterns and displays those patterns on the computer screen. The examiner
then evaluates the patterns for truth or deception.
- The examiner meets the requesting party to determine the specific purpose
of the exanimation and to begin formulation of relevant questions.
- A pre-test interview is conducted with the subject to help him or her feel at
ease with the examiner, to provide an opportunity to specify matters, to
eliminate outside issues, and to review questions that will be asked.
- An oral test of about 12 to 15 “yes” or “no” questions is given which is
recorded on a tape recorder. The questions are a mixture of relevant an
irrelevant question.
- Immediately following the test or are a late time, the tape is processed
through the Psychological Stress Evaluator for analysis of answer.
- If stress is indicated, the subject is given authority to provide additional
clarification. A re-test is given to verify correction and clarification.
1. Red Hot Iron Ordeal — Practiced on the hill tribe of Rajhmal in the North
Bengal. The accused placed his tongue to a red-hot iron nine times (9) unless
burned sooner. If burned, he is put to death as he is guilty. Not only just licking
the iron but also, he is made to carry the metal into his hands.
3. Boiling Water Ordeal- Common in Africa. The method was that the
subject will be asked to - plunge their right arms into the boiling water to the
elbow and step into the other side of the fire. All are told to undergo the test
without a murmur. And when all are finished, they are told to return at the same
time the next afternoon. The one who showed blisters would prove the thief
(Point out who is the one who steal among his tribe mates).
5. Ordeal of the Red Water - Used in a wide region of Eastern Africa. The
ordeal of the “sassy bark” or red water was used where the accused is made to
fast for twelve hours then swallows a small amount of rice until he is imbibed
in dark colored water. This water is actually emetic and if the suspect ejects all
the rice, he is considered innocent; otherwise, the accused is guilty.
7. Trial by Combat - A fight between the accuser and the accused, whoever
lost the battle will be the adjudged guilty. Originated in India where an accuser
could hire somebody or bigger one to fight the accused. After the fight the loser
will be adjudged as guilty of crime. It became the legal ordeal in England during
the time of “King Henry III.”
8. Trial by Torture - The accused was put into a severe physical test. If the
accused can endure such torture, he will be considered innocent.
10. Trial of the Eucharist - This trial is reserved for the clergy, and
administered with pomp and ceremony. If the accused was guilty, it was
believed that Angel Gabriel will descend from heaven and prevent the accused
from swallowing the food given to him. Practiced in the European countries.
11. Ordeal by Heat and Fire - The accused was compelled to walk bare
footed through a fire, if he remains unhurt then he is_ innocent. Practiced in
East Germany, early Scandinavian countries and early England.
12. Ordeal of Boiling Oil or Water - The accused was forced to dip his hands
into the boiling water or oil and ask to pick up stone in it. If he remains unhurt
then he is innocent. Practiced in Asian Countries.
13. Ordeal of Red-Hot Needle - A red hot needle was drawn through the
lips of the accused, if innocent, no blood will be seen flowing out. Practiced in
East Africa.
14. Ordeal of the Tiger - Accuser and accused were placed together in the
same and a tiger set loose upon them. If both were spared, further elimination
followed. Practiced in Thailand.
15. Test of the Cross Ordeal - The accuser and accused each were made to
stand with arms crossed on their breast. The one who endured the longest was
deemed to have told the truth, the other, is the liar. Practiced in Europe.
16. Donkey’s Tail Ordeal - A donkey was placed in one room alone and was
observed. If the donkey cried as judge of the guilty of crimes, then the accused
is guilty.
1. Burma - The accuser and accused were given each identical candle and both
were lightened at the same time. The holder of the candle that consumed faster
was adjudged the liar.
2. Borneo - The accuser and accused were presented by shell fish placed on a
plate. An irritating fluid was then poured on the shell fish and the litigant whose
shell fish moved first was adjudged the winner. 3. Greece - A suspended axe was
spun at the center of a group of suspects. When the axe stopped, whoever was
in line with the blade was supposed to be guilty as pointed out by the divine
providence.
3. Nigeria - The priest greased a feather and pierced the tongue of the accused.
If the feather passed through the tongue easily, the accused was deemed
innocent. If not, the accused is guilty. Another method in Nigeria was the
practice of pouring corrosive liquid into the eyes of the accused who was
supposed to remain unharmed if innocent. Pour boiling oil over the hand of the
accused with the usual requisites for guilt or innocence (if remain unharmed,
he is innocent).
4. Europe and Early United States (17th Century) - Trial by water was
commonly used on those accused of witchcraft. The accused was bound (hand
and foot) and then cast into the body of water. If the accused sank, he was
But what is always driving a person to lie? What is behind all these?
A. KINDS OF LIES
This is the kind of lie, the most common of all, which is intended to
protect or maintain harmony or friendship, at home, in the office or elsewhere.
Example: Peter’s Denial: The distorted formulation of rules and regulations in
some companies in order to protect and secure own products from any outside
competing forces.
2. Pathological Lie
This is a lie made by persons who cannot distinguish right from wrong. It
must be said that those persons are mentally sick, or of low mental caliber. In
Polygraphy, impairment of the mind must be established first before
conducting any lie-detector test; otherwise the whole test will be useless.
Pathological liars are among those classified as Barriers and Obstacles to Lie
Detection with the aid of the Polygraph.
3. Red Lie
This involves political interests and motives because this is part of
Communist propaganda strategy. This lie is prevalent in communist countries
of communist-infested nations. Lies of this sort purport to destroy other
ideologies by means of propaganda-brainwashing and black-mail via espionage
and treason.
4. Black Lie
A lie which accompanies pretensions and hypocrisies, intriguing can cause
dishonor or discredit one’s good image. (An example is the person who always
pretends what he thinks of himself, what kind of person he is, and what he is
doing).
B. TYPES OF LIE
a. Direct Denial-this is the direct denial of the act in question that creates an
emotional sense of disturbance. This disturbance refers to the conflict between
what is true and the attempted deception that creates an internal battle in the
mind. Example: “I did not do it”. The vague response permits the person to
evade inner conflict while seeming to answer the question. The reply given to a
query must be evaluated in terms of what was asked to know if the answer is
proper.
b. Lie of Omission - this is a type of lie that people usually used because it is
simple to tell. Individuals who will make use of this type of lie will tell the truth
while omitting details that could create possible troubles.
c. Lie of Fabrication - this is the most difficult type op lie that a subject could
use in an interview.
Example: Mr. X is complaining because Mr. B boxed him and as a result the
nose of Mr. X is broken. If Mr. B used the lie of minimization, he will state that
he only slapped Mr. X.
e. Lie of Exaggeration - this is a lie often used to exaggerate things for the
hope of obtaining some advantage. This is also often found on resume, where
applicant exaggerates his or her experiences, knowledge, skills, salary and
length of service. The exaggerated claims can be verified by looking for
inconsistencies of the subject’s story.
C. TYPES OF LIAR
a. Panic Liar
d. Psychopathic Liar
- A person who cannot distinguish right from wrong (his mind is sick.)
- Is an insane person.
g. Black Liar
To further enhance the study of the psychology of the lying person, it is also
necessary to understand Subject’s age characteristics, which are as follows:
Generally, when a person becomes defensive due to fear of detection, one can
point out that any of the signs herein enumerated indicates lies, guilt or deceptive,
such as:
1. Stammering
2. Swearing to or before God that he did not commit the crime
3. Pointing his guilt to somebody else
4. Subject refuses to answer questions through alibis and excuses
5. He is all the time absent-minded
6. He is always requesting for repetition of questions
7. He often asks counter-question and counter-queries
8. He often asks permission to go to the comfort rooms, etc.