DETECTING

LIES

The idea of having a reliable, physiologically-based way of

catching liars has always appealed to people—more so in
the 20th century with its love of science fiction. A lie
detector is a physical countermeasure that attempts to
detect dissimilation. Some have tried pharmacological or
truth-drug methods with limited success.
How polygraphs work?
The polygraph measures autonomic nervous system activity by sensors
attached to different parts of the body: chest, stomach, fingers. These
sensors measure changes in breathing (depth and rate), cardiac activity
(blood pressure) and perspiration. It is also possible to measure brain
electrical activity. The indicators only show physiological changes, usually
induced by emotion. The machine amplifies signals picked up from sensors
placed at specific parts of the body. It detects not lies, but physical changes
that are the results of specific emotions (fear, anger, guilt)—but which of
these is not clear. People are asked “hot” or relevant questions as well as
“cool” or control questions. The assumption is that for innocent people there
is no physical difference in the way they respond to relevant and control
questions. But some people are more reactive than others.
 The lie detector remains used in
three different contexts: criminal
investigations, security vetting
and personnel selection. Some
argue the base rate of liars is too
low ever to be accurate. Others
suggest that the test causes a
poor impression. However, some
argue that taking the test or
threatening to have to take it
leads people to admitting
important things they otherwise
would not admit. Thus a test can
have utility even without
accuracy.
Emotional “leakage”
Response latency, or the time elapsing between the
end of a question and the beginning of their response.
Liars take longer.
Frequency and length of pauses, or the number of
times people seem uncertain of what to say or what
they have been saying
Linguistic distance—not saying “I,” “he,” “she,” but
talking in the abstract even when recalling incidents in
which they were involved.
Slow but uneven speech—as they try to think while speaking but get
caught out. It is the change in pace as a function of a particular question
that gives a clue that something is not right.

Too eager to fill silences—to keep talking when it is unnecessary

Speech errors—hesitating, Freudian slips, overuse of “ums” and “errs” and

sudden changes in speed of talking.
There are also some nonverbal cues.
Squirming—shifting around too much in the chair. Shown by
numerous and unusual head, leg, foot and trunk movements.
Having too much eye contact, as liars tend to overcompensate.
Microexpression, or flickers of expressions (of surprise, hurt,
anger) —difficult to see unless frames are frozen.
An increase in comfort gestures—self-touching the face and
upper body
Changes in facial expression, particularly smiling, blinking and
eyegaze patterns.