Forerunners of Scientific Methods of Detecting Deception

1. Hypnotism
This method was introduced by an Austrian Physician Franz (Friedrich) Anton
Mesmer (1734-1815) in 1778. He believed in animal magnetism, therapeutic
effect influenced other persons. These effects produced were attributed to the
state of mind of a subject whereby he is set up and thereby instructed to sit
quietly and gazed at flashing light or shiny object tangled in front of his eyes and
to cooperate with whatever the hypnotist would like him to do.
Detected deception through hypnosis was not admissible in court due to the following:

 It lacks the general scientific acceptance of the reliability of hypnosis in ascertaining the
truth from falseness.
 The possibility that the hypnotized subject will deliberately fabricate.
 The prospect that the state of heightened suggestibility in which the hypnotized subject
will deliberately fabricate.
 The state of the mind and professionalism of the examiner are too subjective to permit
admissibility if the expert testimony.

2. The Word Association Test

This method was introduced in 1879 by Sir Francis Galton (1822-1911) an
English Scientist and Anthropometrist. His experiment was later developed by Dr.
Carl Gustav Jung (11875-1961) – a Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist and the
founder of Analytical Psychology.

This method is done by giving a subject a long list of carefully selected stimulus
words or objects with other pictures combines with other irrelevant words, objects
or pictures with the instruction to respond with the very first word that may come
to subject’s mind. Dr. Jung was able to observe how the thinking reactions were
linked into the emotional habit of his subject. The theory behind this method is
that, one word or idea is reflective of another word or idea and the expression of
their association forms a meaningful picture.

3. The Truth Serum Method

This method was introduced by Dr. Edward Mandel House (1858-1938), a US
Physicist and diplomat and a confidential adviser to former US President
Woodrow Wilson. The term “truth serum” is a misnomer. The procedure does not
make someone tell the truth and the thing administered is not a serum but is
actually a drug.

This method is based on the theory that intervention through interrogation is

made possible after dosage of drugs has been appropriately administered which
depresses the cerebral activity to a point of unconsciousness, an influence called
as the “House of Receptive Stage or the “Twilight Zone”. On this condition the
subject is half sleep.
 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:
 The test must be performed by skilled experimenter, operator, technician
or physician.
 The subject expresses his consent to undergo the test.
 The dosage of drugs injected or administered is sufficient for acquiring
desired results.
 There is sufficient time during the test.
 Assurance of result is acquired to determine truth or deception.
Though statements taken from the subject under this process is not admissible
as evidence in court because its nature is involuntary, its application to criminal
investigation is very useful because of its psychological effect, before, during and
after. Just as well, a person not knowing the misleading notion of the test may tell
the truth to avoid pain of needles and possible brain destruction even before the
test is done.
4. Narco-analysis or Narco-synthesis
This method of detecting deception was practically the same as that of
administration of truth serum. The only difference is the drug used. The drug
Sodium Amytal or Sodium Pentothal is administered to the subject. When the
effects appear, questioning starts. It was claimed that the drug causes
depression of the inhibitory mechanism of the brain and subject talks freely. The
administration of the drug and subsequent interrogation must be done by a
psychiatrist. Like the administration of truth serum, the result of the test was not
admissible in court.
5. Intoxication

This was practiced by means of drinking alcoholic beverages as stimuli to obtain

truth on the part of the subject. The subject for interrogation will be allowed to
take alcoholic beverages up to the point of intoxication. Theoretically, when under
the influence of alcohol, the power of control is said to be diminished, thus, the
subject will tend to tell everything he knows or reveal all the relevant information.
Interrogation is to be made during the excitatory effect of alcohol.

Under this method, there is eventually lack of self-control of the subject under
intoxication. When the subject is already in the depressive state due to excess
 alcohol intake, he will not be able to answer questions anymore and perhaps fell
asleep. Confession made by the subject while intoxicated is admissible if he is
physically able to recollect the facts and state them truly and exactly even after
the influence or spirit of alcohol disappeared. But in most instances, the subject
can recall his utterances or usually refuses to admit the truth of the statement
given.

6. The Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE)

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 oscillations of the
muscles or microtremor occur at the rate of 8 to 14 cycles per second and
controlled by the central nervous system.

When a person is under stress as when he is lying; the micro tremor in the voice
utterance is moderately or completely suppressed. The degree of suppression
varies inversely to the degree of psychologic stress on the speaker. The
psychological stress evaluator (PSE) detects, measures and graphically displays
the voice modulations that we cannot hear.

When a person is relaxed and responding honestly to the question, those

inaudible frequencies are registered clearly on the instrument. But when a person
is under stress, a s when he is lying, these frequencies tend to disappear. Under
this method, the following procedures are followed:

 The examiner meets the requesting party to determine the specific

purpose of the examination and to begin formulation of relevant
questions.
 A pre-test interview is conducted with the subject to help him or her feel
as 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 question is given which is
recorded on a tape recorder. The questions are a mixture of relevant and
irrelevant questions.
 Immediately following the test or are a late time, the tape is processes
through the Psychological Stress Evaluator for analysis of answer.
 If the stress is indicated, the subject is given authority to provide
additional clarification. A retest is given to verify correction and
clarification.
What are the Methods of Detecting Deception through Regular Police Works?
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 1 H 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:
1. Information gathering – through record check, surveillance and intelligence check.
2. Investigation - through interrogation and/or interview to obtain admission or
confession.
3. Instrumentation – through criminalistic processes with the use of the different
investigative forensic sciences such as medico legal or forensic medicine, forensic
chemistry, forensic photography, forensic chemistry, forensic ballistics, questioned
documents examination, dactyloscopy and polygraphy or deceptography.