MODULE 1

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES

Name:
Year and Course:
Instructor: MS. FERLYN ROSE SAGUID, RCRIM.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 1

LEARNING OBJECTIVES:

 Identify the different concept of lie detection as an aid in law

enforcement administration and criminal justice
 Classify the early methods of lie detection.
 Familiarize the important personalities and events in the evolution
of polygraphy.
 Define the psychophysiology of lying.
 Enumerate the kinds and types of lie.


Direction: Read and explain the quotation above. Write your answer on the space provided.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 2

 INTORDUCTION TO POLYGRAPHY

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES

CHAPTER 1

Polygraph is an instrument that simultaneously record the changes of physiological reactions

in the human body as indicative of deception.

Thomas Jefferson was the first person known to use the term polygraph to describe one of
his inventions which could repeatedly rewrite words in 1970.

Polygraph defined

It is the scientific detection of deception through the aid or use of a polygraph instrument.

Polygraph Examination defined

It is the process that encompasses all activities that takes place between a polygraph
examiner and an examinee during a specific series or interactions. For a valid polygraph examination
to exist, respiration, electro dermal activity, and cardiovascular activity must be monitored and
recorded. It is also termed “Forensic Psychophysiological Detection of Deception (PDD)”

Polygraph examination is different from polygraph test, because polygraph test refers to
techniques applied or used by the polygraph examiner in a particular polygraph examination. The
examiner may administer polygraph examination using relevant-irrelevant test, general question test,
peak of tension test, comparison question test or other test/techniques available in the field. The test
or technique to be used by the polygraph examiner depends on the nature or type of examination to
be conducted.

Polygraph Examiner defined

A polygraph examiner is one who is capable of detecting deception and verifying the
truthfulness of statement through the use of a polygraph instrument. He is someone who ha
successfully completed formal education and training in conducting polygraph examination and is
certified by his agency to conduct such examination. Polygraph examiner is also known as “Forensic
Psychophysiologist”

Subject defined

Subject or examinee is any person who undergoes polygraph examination.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 3
Two Types of polygraph Instrument

1. Conventional Polygraph Instrument

The conventional instrument is the old and traditional type of instrument being used in
polygraphy today. It records different systems of the human body such as respiration, galvanic
skin response known today as electrodermal response, and cardiovascular activity.

2. Computerized Polygraph Instrument

The computerized instrument is a sophisticated so as the art computer aided polygraph

instrument. It allows examiner to collect and store physiological data from subject in the easiest
way with no hassle.

Uses of Polygraphy

1. Pre-Employment Screening- a test used to screen applicants for employment. Some private
companies in the Philippines require their applicants to undergo polygraph screening test.
2. Periodic Audit- a test used to determine the honesty and integrity of the present employee
with the company.
3. Case Investigation- a test commonly conducted in the field today when there is an incident or
issue under question.
4. Paired Testing- a polygraph test conducted when there are two persons who assert
contradictory statement. In this test, both persons simultaneously undergo polygraph exam in
separate rooms with different examiners.
5. Post-Conviction Sex offender Testing- a test conducted to those convicted of sex crimes to
monitor their behavior while under parole or probation. Presently, this provides effective
monitoring procedures in the field today.

CHAPTER 2

EARLY METHODS OF LIE DETECTION

Since the dawn of civilization, mankind has been seeking ways to distinguish truths from lies
among individuals suspected criminals wrongdoing. Various techniques were used for the verification
of truth and the detection of deception over the centuries – many of which being ridiculous and cruel.

1. Trial by Combat (Wager of Battle, Trial by Battle or Judicial Duel)

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 4

 It was a method to settle accusations in the absence of witnesses or a confession where two
parties in dispute fought in single combat. The winner of the fight would be proclaimed innocent
while the loser would be adjudged guilty. It was one of the ancient judicial means of determining
guilt in England. It remained in use throughout the European middle ages and gradually
disappeared in the course of the 16th century.

2. Trial by Ordeal

A judicial practice where in the guilt or innocence of the accused is determined by subjecting
him to an unpleasant, usually dangerous, experience. A word “ordeal” was derived from the
Medieval Latin word “Die Indicum” which means a miraculous decision.” In some cases, the
accused are considered innocent if they survived the test, or their injuries healed. In other cases,
only death is accepted as a proof of innocence.

a. Ordeal of Heat and Fire- this method of ordeal encompasses a number of sub-
classifications of tests such as the Red Hot Iron Ordeal, The Ordeal of Hot Needle, and the
Boiling Wate Ordeal among others. In this test, the accused walks a certai distance, usually
nine feet, over red-hot plowshares or while holding a red-hot iron. Innocence is sometimes
established by a complete lack of injury, but it is common for the wound to be bandaged
and re-examined three days later by a priest, who would pronounce whether God has
intervened to heal it, or that it was merely festering- in case of which, the suspect would be
exiled or executed.

a.1. Ordeal of Hot Water- this test requires the accused to retrieve a stone from a boiling
water. The depth from which the stone had to be retrieved depends on the number of
accusations: up to the wrist for one accusation and up to the elbow for three. The ordeal would
take place in a church, with several in attendance, purified and praying to God to reveal the
truth. Afterwards, the hand of the accused is bound and examined after three days to see
whether it is healing or festering. If it is healing, the accused would be considered innocent,
otherwise, the accused is said to be guilty. It was practiced by the Catholic churches until the
12th century.

a.2. Ordeal of Boiling Oil- this ordeal was practiced in villages in India and certain parts of
West Africa. There are two versions of this ordeal. In one version, the accused parties are
ordered to retrieve an item from a container of boiling oil, with those who refused the task
being found guilty. In the other version of the trial, both the accused and the accuser have to

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 5

retrieve an item from boiling oil, with the person whose hand remains unscathed being
declared innocent.

a.3. Red Hot Iron Ordeal- the accused will be required to touch an extremely hot metal nine
times (unless burned sooner) with his tongue. If the tongue is burned, he will be judged guilty.
In some countries, they used a hot needle instead of hot iron to tease the lips. In this case, the
bleeding of the lips is an indication of guilt.

b. Ordeal of Cold Water- this ordeal has a precedent in the Code of Ur-Nammu and the Code
of Hammurabi. Under this ordeal, a man accused of sorcery is to be submerged in a steam; if
he survived, he is acquitted.

c. Ordeal of Rice Chewing- a method of detecting deception whereby an accused will be

required to take rice (to clergy bread or cheese). If the accused failed to swallow even a single
grain of concentrated rice, he/she will be adjudged guilty.

d. Ordeal of Red Water (Food and Drink Ordeal)- in this method the accused will be
required to run fast for twelve hours, take a cup of rice and drink dark colored water (as much
as one gallon). The red water is said to be sacred water. As it enters the body, it will search the
heart and once it found that the accused is innocent, it will serve as an emetic and will cause
the accused person to vomit the rice as evidence of his innocence. This is also called “The
Trial of The Eucharist”.

e. Ordeal of the Cross- the ordeal of the cross was introduced in the early Middle Ages by the
Church in an attempt to discourage judicial deals among the Germanic peoples. As with
judicial duels, the accuser has to undergo the ordeal together with the accused. They will stand
on either side of a cross and will stretch out their hands horizontally. The one to first lower his
arms will lose. This ordeal was prescribed by Charlemagne. On the other hand, a decree of
Lothar I abolished the ordeal so as to avoid the mockery of the Christ.

f. The Test of the Axe- in Greece, a suspended axe was spun in the center of a group of
suspects. Whosoever was in line with the blade when the axe stops was supposed to be the
guilty as pointed by divine providence.

g. The Test of the Candle- this test was used in Burma. The accuser and the accused are
each given identical candles which are lighted at the same time. The candle that burns longer
determines who speaks the truth.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 6

 h. The “Hereditary Sieve”- Dr. Hans Gross mentioned this ordeal in his famous book on
criminal Investigation in which beans were thrown into a sieve as the name of each suspect
was called. The deception criteria were described as follows --- “If the bean jumps out of the
sieve, the owner if the name pronounced is innocent, if the bean remains in the sieve, the
person named is the thief”.

i. Donkey’s Tail (Ash tail) Ordeal- a method of ordeal where all accused person are
instructed to select a cage with a donkey. They will then strike the donkey’s tail and whoever’s
chosen donkey cries first is supposed to be adjudged guilty. Then, once one of the donkeys
cries, they will all be requested to get out of the cage and show their hands. The true test is
whosoever bears a clean hand is the guilty person. This is based on the fact that the donkey’s
tail is coated with the lampblack. Evidence showing a clean hand would indicate that the
person did not hold it tight and did not really strike the donkey to avoid detection.

CHAPTER 3

IMPORTANT PERSONALITIES AND EVENTS IN THE EVOLUTION OF POLYGRAPHY

The polygraph, or most commonly known as lie detector, has been in existence in police
science many, many years ago. Tracing back its beginning, one may found out that there are several
persons instrumental in the development of the polygraph instrument as we know today – recording
changes in respiration, galvanic skin response (GSR) or electrodermal activity (EDA) and
cardiovascular activity.

Daniel Defoe

In 1730, a year before Daniel Defoe died, he wrote a essay entitled “An effectual Scheme for
the Immediate Preventing of the Street Robberies and Suppressing All Other Disorders of the Night”
where he suggested the use of the pulse to detect deception. Defoe essay called upon the attention
of many scientists to employ medical science in the fight against crime.

Angelo Mosso

In 1878, science came to aid of the truth seeker through the research of an Italian psychologist
Angelo Mosso. He made use of an instrument called plethysmograph in his research on emotion and
fear and its influence on the heart and respiration. Mosso also found out that the variation in blood
pressure and the circulation of blood in the brain during fear is far greater that those resulting from the
effect of mere noises and sounds.
LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 7
Cesare Lombroso

Cesare Lombroso, an Italian Criminologist and tutor of Angelo Mosso, published the second
edition of his book entitled L’ Homme Criminel where he related the use of plethysmograph and
sphygmograph during interrogation of suspects. He made a modification of the plethysmograph
resulting in the hydrosphygmograph. Lombroso applied the blood pressure pulse test in actual
criminal suspects. The suspect’s fist would be immersed in water-filled tank then sealed across the
top of the tank by the rubber membrane. The pulsations of blood in the fist were transferred to the
water and the changes in water level were carried over an air-filled tube which will be recorded on the
revolving smoked drum.

Francis Galton

Francis Galton introduced the word association test in 1879. A group of words will be
presented to a patient with intervals long enough to allow the patient to utter his first thought on each
word. Several irrelevant questions were inserted in every question relevant to the crime committed.
Guilty examinee, when confronted with relevant word, will suffer from an inner conflict which may be
manifested either a delay in reaction, more rapid reaction time, repetition of relevant word, blocking of
response or uncoordinated of physical movements.

Sticker

Sticker believed that the origin of galvanic skin phenomenon was under the influence of the
impressions. Sticker made the earliest application of psychogalvanometer to forensic problems.

Sir James Mackenzie

Sir James Mackenzie, an English clinician and cardiologist, constructed the clinical polygraph
in 1892, an instrument once used in medical examinations with the capability to simultaneously
record undulated line tracings of the vascular pulses (radial, venous and arterial), by way of a stylus
into a revolving drum of smoked paper.

Veraguth

He is said to be the first person to use the term psychogalvanic reflex. Veraguth was the first
scientist to use the word association test with galvanometer. In 1907, he described his observation on
galvanic phenomena and emotions that there was an ascending galvanometer curve during the
presentation of relevant stimuli versus the rest of the curve on non-crucial stimuli.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 8

Vittorio Benussi

In March 1913, Vittorio Benussi presented a paper before the second meeting of the Italian
Society for Psychology in Rome. In his paper, he described how he recorded the subjects breathing
pattern using a Marey Pneumograph, noting the changes in inspiration-expiration ratio during
deception. In addition to respiration, he also included the recording of heart rate and blood pressure
curve in detection of deception and probably the first person to record more than one physiological
response.

Dr. William M. Masrton

Marston was credited the creator of the blood pressure test used. In 1915, he employed it in an
attempt to detect deception during questioning, using a standard blood pressure cuff and stethoscope.
It required repeated inflated of the pressure cuff to obtain readings at intervals during examination,
which became one component of the modern polygraph. This was called discontinuous technique.

Harold Burtt

In 1918, Burtt suggested that the changes in respiration were an indication of deception. He
was able to determine that the changes in respiration were of less value in the detection of deception
than the changes in blood pressure. The results obtained by Benussi were partially confirmed by Burtt.

John A. Larson

John Larson’s interest was captured by William Marstons’s studies in detecting deception
using the discontinuous method. Encouraged by Berkeley police Chief August Vollmer, he attempted
to use a deception test in actual criminal investigations. He examined a variety of instruments and
methodologies that were available at that time. He selected an Enlarger Sphygmomanometer to
produce permanent recording of blood pressure using a smoked drum and kymograph. His first
apparatus, which he referred to as a Cardio-Pneumo Psychogram, consisted of a modification of an
Enlarger Sphygmomanometer. The modification was done by Earl Bryan for Dr. Robert Gesell of the
Department of Physiology of the University of California. The first instrument Larson used in his
experiments was borrowed fom Dr. Gesell.

John Larson was considered as the Father of Scientific Lie Detection for being the first person
to verify the truth and detect deception in a more scientific way. He is also considered as the Father
of Polygraphy.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 9

Leonarde Keeler

Leonade Keeler, above all others, was the most involved in the history of modern polygraphy
and can be considered as one of its founders. While in high school, he worked at the Berkery Police
Department under Chief August Vollmer. He assisted Joh Larson during his early polygraph work.
John Larson’s instrument was Leonard Keeler’s instrument. In 1926, he developed an improvement
of Larson’s instrument. Keeler’s instrument, like Larson’s instrument, it records changes in blood
pressure, pulse rate and respiration patterns. However, he developed metal bellows (tambours) which
was connected by a mechanical device. The volume changes within the blood pressure arm cuff and
pneumograph tube circling the chest of the subject were transmitted in heavy walled rubber going to
the tambours. Keeler also designed the kymograph that pulled a chart paper at a constatnt speed
unde ecording pens from a roll of chart located inside the instrument.

In 1938, Keeler included the Psychogalvanometer (PGR), the third measuring component of
his instrument which was also known as Galvanograph invented by Italian Physiologist Galvani in
1791. The PGR measures the person’s skin resistance to electricity be transmitting a constant minute
electrical current through the skin of the selected fingerprints.

Keeler also developed the relevant-irrelevant technique. This technique consisted of elevant or
crime questions which were interspersed with irrelevant questions of a neutral nature. Today,
Leonade Keeler is known as the Father of Modern Polygraphy.

Ruckmick

In 1936, the term psychogalvanic reflex used by Veraguth was repudiated by Ruckmick and
proposed the term electrodermal response. However, Veraguth believed that the electrodermal
phenomena was attributable not to vascular changes in the skin but to the activity of the sweat glands.

John E. reid

Reid was an attorney, polygraph examiner and former member of the Chicago Police Scientific
Crime Detection Laboratory and Director of John E. Reid and Associates. In 1950, he developed the
control question which consisted of a known lie and incorporated it into the relevant-irrelevant
technique.

Cleve Backster

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 10

 Backster developed the psychological set theory and the anticlimax dampening concept. He
also developed and introduced the quantification system of chart analysis which permits the examiner
to score the charts numerically according to standard rules.

Richard O. Arther

He introduced the Arther II polygraph instrument which contains a stimulus marker. The
instrument is capable of recording the beginning and ending of question and the moment the
examinee answered.

American polygraph Association

In 1966, the American Polygraph Association was established.

Compute Assisted Polygraph System

During the 1980s, research was conducted non computerized polygraph at the University of
Utah by Dr. John C. Kircher and David C. Raskin. In 1988, they developed the Computer Assisted
Polygraph System, which incorporated the first algorithm to be used for evaluating physiological data
collected for diagnostic purposes.

Computerized Polygraph Instrument

In 1992, the polygraph made its official entrance into the computer age. Different polygraph
manufacturers have started producing computerized instruments which has the same physiological
data being recorded with that of the analogue instruments.

PolyScore and Objective scoring System

The Polyscore uses a sophisticated mathematical algorithm to analyze the polygraph data and
to estimate a probability or degree of deception or truthfulness in a subject.

CHAPTER 4

PSYCHOPHYSIOLOGY OF LYING

Lying is a part of the daily life of mankind, some people lie in order to get reward while some
others in order to avoid punishment. Whatever the reason may be, it is important to note that when
someone tells a lie, there are considerable psychological and physiological reactions that originate
from our central nervous system.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 11

Central Nervous System (CNS)

The central nervous system is composed of the brain and the spinal cord. All other nerve ways
are within the peripheral nervous system which separates into two:

1. Somatic Nervous System- is involved with voluntary comparative over skeletal muscles.

2. Autonomic Nervous System- involved those involuntary physiological functions of the

body and has considerable psychological impact as well.

Two Divisions of Autonomic Nervous System

1. Parasympathetic Nervous System (PNS)- the housekeeping or braking system. It is

esponsible for conserving energy and ensuring necessary bodily functions. It restrains
sympathetic arousal and attempts to maintain homeostatic (homeostasis) normal.

2. Sympathetic Nervous System (SNS)- is pour emergency or action system. It is a system

which causes the sudden and dramatic changes.

Homeostasis- is complex interactive regulatory system by which the body strives to maintain
a state of internal equilibrium.

When the sympathetic nervous system is activated, it immediately prepares the body to fight or
flight by causing the adrenal glands to secrete hormones known as epinephrine and norepinephrine
and the blood will be distributed ton those areas of the body where it is most needed to meet the
emergency.

Fight, flight, freeze- are the three stereotypic behavioral responses to threat, sometimes
simply called the F3. The physiological responses concomitant to these behaviors are the same,
namely mobilizing bodily resources for an expenditure of energy, and narrowing attention and focus
to the features of the threat.

Epinephrine- is the hormonal stimulator of the sympathetic nervous system. It acts to constrict
peripheral blood flow, raise blood pressure, increase cardiac activity, and promote metabolic activity
through the release of glucose, and inhibit digestive processes. It is considered a psychogenic
hormone because it alters psychological processes when released in large quantities, such as when
under stress. It is produced in the adrenal medulla, located above each kidney. In British, it is called
adrenaline.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 12

 Norepinephrine- is a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland. It woks alongside
epinephrine/adrenaline to give the body sudden energy in times of stress know as the fight or flight
response. It is called noradrenaline in British.

Hypothalamus- is a series of nerve cells of the brain that control the entire endocrine-
hormonal system.

CHAPTER 5

TRUTH AND LIE

Truth defined

The deliberate, complete and objective communication whether verbal, written or gesture, of
the recollection of a person, place, thing and/or event which the communication believes to exist,
have existed or occurred.

Lie defined

The deliberate communication to another, either verbally, written or by gesture, of something

that the communicator knows or suspects to be not true.

Kinds of Liar

1. Pathological Liar- a liar who cannot distinguish between right or wrong.

2. Panic Liar- a person who lies to avoid the consequences of certain action.

3. Occupational Liar- is a practical liar and usually lies when there is a higher pay off than telling
the truth.

4. Ethnological Liar- person who is trained not to be squealer. This person loves to be
interrogated in such a way that he will never reveal the truth.

5. Tournament Liar- a person who loves to lie and is excited by the challenge of not being
detected.

6. Psychopathic Liar- is considered as the most difficult type of liar to deal with because he is
such a good actor. He has no regret for his dishonest actions and no manifestations of guilt.

7. Black Liar- a person who always pretends.

Variations of Lie
LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 13
 1. Derail- change the subject of discussion in order to avoid the truth. (For example, one might
feign being offended in order to stop a conversation about one’s questionable actions.)

2. Confuse- quibble or confuse the issue, or deliberately use ambiguity in order to deceive or
mislead.

3. Misinform- invent or perpetrate a false story with the intent to deceive or mislead.

Types of Lie

1. Big Lie- a lie which attempts to trick the victim into believing something major which will likely
be constructed by the victim’s common sense or by some information that he already
possessed.

2. Bluffed Lie- a lie that pretends to have a capability or intention which one does not actually
possess. Bluffing is an act of deception that is rarely seen as immporal when taken in the
context of a game (i.e., deception consented to in advance by the players).

3. Emergency Lie- a strategic lie told when the truth may not be told because harm to a third
party would result.

4. Lie of Exaggeration- a lie often used to exaggerate things in order to obtain or get some
advantage. Exaggeration occurs when the most fundamental aspect of statement are true but
only to a certain degree. It is also described as “stretching the truth” or making something to
appear more powerful, meaningful or real that it actually is.

5. Lie if Fabrication- is something made up or a misinterpretation of a truth. It is often used by

the subject in an interview.

6. Lie of Omission- a lie used by omitting an important fact, deliberately leaving another person
with a misconception.

7. Misleading/Dissembling Lie- it is one where there is no outright lie but still retains the
purpose of getting someone to believe in an untruth. Dissembling likewise describes the
presentation of facts in a way that is literally true but intentionally misleading.

8. Noble Lie- is one that would normally discord of uncovered but offers some benefit to the liar
and assists in an orderly society therefore potentially beneficial to others.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 14

 9. Puffery Lie- is an exaggerated claim typically found in advertising and publicity
announcements. For example “the highest quality at the lowest price”. Such statement is
unlikely to be true but cannot be proven false and so do not violate trade laws.

10. Lie of Compliment or False Reassurance- a lie intended to please others. For example “that
looks good to you” or “everything is going to be alright”.

11. White Lie- a lie that would cause only relatively minor discord if it were uncovered and
typically offers some harmony of friendship, in the home or in the office.

12. Red Lie- a lie used to destroy the ideologies by means of propaganda which is common in
communist countries.

13. Malicious Lie- a lie usually used to mislead or dishonesty intended to obstruct justice.

Verbal Signs if Deception

The determination of deception through the word uttered by the subject in somehow difficult
because people can easily manipulate or control their verbal expressions. Accordingly, the least
dependable signs or lying are the ones which a person has the most control, such as wod, because a
person can rehearse their lies.

1. Speech Patterns

When a person is lying one might notice higher pitch in tone, stuttering, clearing the throat
and frequent pauses. The person might use filler words such as “uh, er, oh and um” during
moments of hesitation as lies are put together. Liars also will cut out contractions using “was not”
instead of “wasn’t” or “did not” rather than “didn’t”. it is also typical for a person to get tongue-tied
and lose his thoughts in midsentence.

2. Repeating Questions

As lies are formulated, the person needs time to think. Instead of giving a straight answer.
They usually repeat the question, or they may have a slight pause between answers. The person
might also ask to repeat the question just asked. Even though he head it the first time. These are
tactics that liars used to buy time before responding.

3. Strong Denial

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 15

 Defensive behavior, denial and trying to make the other person feel guilty might also be
used as the liar tries to create empathy. One might hear things like “I would never lie” as the
person tries to convince the interviewer that he is innocent. Most people caught in the act of lying
will flat out deny it and even become angry. Everyone tells lies sometimes, so anyone who say
they “never lie” is probably lying.

4. Changing the Subject of the Story

A swift subject change is another of the verbal signs of lying. The person might also tell a
story that lacks details. If the story starts to change or becomes different at different times, this is a
strong indication of lying. Liars will also contradict themselves, making statements that do not
completely makes sense. If suspicion occurs, press on asking questions and look fo details that
do not fit together.

5. Unwillingness to Cooperate

Liars do not want to be found out and will be significantly more uncooperative than
someone who is telling the truth. As they are pushed to speak, there are more opportunities to slip
up, which might result to frustration or anger. However, in some accusations, anger is just a
common response. There are more subjects who are more overly polite in order to mislead the
interviewer that they are telling the truth.

Non-verbal Signs of Deception

The non-verbal signs encompasses body movements or gestures of persons while being
asked a series of questions. Body gestures or signals are difficult to control and considered the most
reliable clues to lying.

Ray Birdwhistell, an anthropologist, pioneered the original study of non-verbal communication.

In face to face conversation, verbal component is less than 35% and non-verbal component is 65%.
Aside from that, a person can make and recognize around 250,000 facial expressions. However, not
all of these are effective signs of deception. There are only eight common body gestures associated
with lying.

1. Mouth Cover

A lying person tends to cover his mouth with several fingers when lying. The human brain
causes this and the person does this subconsciously to hide the word just being said.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 16

2. Nose Touch

If the person speaking is not suffering from cold or fever and keeps touching his nose while
talking, he is lying. It has a scientific explanation that once a person tells a lie, a chemical
named catecholamine is released and causes the tissues inside the nose to swell due to the
mental pressure. The secretion of chemical is not visible but the selling creates an itching the
urges the person to touch the nose. The same feeling also happens during anxiety or
annoyance. Generally, it can just be a very quick one or at a few times.

3. Itchy Nose

Some people when telling a lie get busy with scratching nose. Usually, they do it to disguise
their mouth cover or nose touch gesture.

4. Eye Rub

This is another lying gesture. It is the brains attempt to help the liar to avoid the face to face
look during the utterance of lying words. Men do this gesture more and women show this
gesture comparatively less.

5. Ear Grab

People show this gesture (touching the ear lobe) once they suffer from anxiety. A good number
of liars show this gesture to avoid anxiety.

6. Neck Scratch

Some people start scratching their neck by their index finger of writing hand while lying,
especially once the verbal language contradicts with fact.

7. Collar Pull

Lies cause a tingling sensation in neck tissues and a liar feels an urge to rub that place. This is
why some people pull their collar while lying. At the same time, many liars start sweating at
their neck region.

8. Fingers in the Mouth

This is an unconscious gesture of liars when lying. By showing this gesture, a liar wants to
send a reassuring signal of guarantee about his false statement.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 17

Different Lie Detection Techniques

1. Brain Waves

Brain waves has been used in neurophysiology for decades to uncover processes in the brain.
One type of brain waves called Event Related Potentials (ERPs) is of potential interest in lie
detection. ERPs are recorded by sensors placed on the scalp and can reveal the timing and
general location of electrical activity in the brain elicited by the presentation of sounds, words,
text and pictures. It has been shown that the ERPs can reveal whether an individual has guilty
knowledge of crime elated information when it is placed in a list of other information that is
unrelated to the crime.

2. Brain Imagery

A leading candidate for technology for lie detection is Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging
(FMRI). This device is a powerful magnet and sophisticated software that can tack the brains
use of blood over time.

3. Eye Tracking

The pattern of a person’s eye movements over an image can reveal whether the person has
seen the image before. This is especially true for photos of faces, but has also been shown for
pictures of scenes. Movement of the eyes can be monitored by illuminating them with an eye
safe infrared light which creates a reflection that can be detected by a special camera.

4. Facial Analysis

Research over the last two decades has suggested that short facial expressions can reveal
concealed emotions, and have implications for the detection of lies. Called micro-expressions,
they correspond with emotions that the individual is attempting to mask. A series of small
studies point to accuracy above 80% for detection of deception.

5. Narco-Interrogation

Interrogations drugs have a mixed history in law enforcement, and they have been out of favor
for over 50 years. Most of the success of so called truth serums has been in fictional spy
novels, and they have been generally dismissed by government and law enforcement as
ineffective. Public discussion of psychopharmaceuticals appears primarily when no other
methods ae available, such as when trying to extract critical information from terrorists. Over

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 18

 the years research has been conducted on a variety of substances, including cocaine,
mescaline, cannabis, sodium pentothal, and ether in an endeavor to find a magic drug that
loosens the tongue without deactivating the conscious brain. To date, nothing has been found
to be reliable.

6. Reaction Time

As early as the first part of the 20th century, practitioners of the new science of psychology had
been investigating reaction time for the detection of deception. Among them was Freud’s
student Carl Jung. An early theory was that individual harbored “complexes” associated with
certain words, and that those complexes interfered with the person’s ability to respond to
stimuli that would prompt those words.

7. Statement Content Analysis

It is an approach to lie detection that does not use a device or technology. This method relies
upon the analysis the written text for pattern of word choices, use of pronouns and verb tenses,
sequence of the narration, and amount of time covered in the individual passages. Statement
content analysis is often used by police in the initial stages of an investigation to eliminate
suspects, or to direct the course of an ongoing investigation.

8. Voice Stress Analysis

There are several companies now making voice based lie detectors. Because voice stress
analysis is a non-contact technology, and can be used on both live and recorded voice
samples, many considered it a boon to law enforcement. Hundreds of police departments have
purchased the devices since its introduction in the 1970s, making them second only to the
polygraph in popularity among police agencies. The devices themselves are relatively
inexpensive, easy to operate, and require s little as a week of formal training.

9. Thermal Imaging

Recent advances in camera and computer technology have led to the development of a
method that uses body heat to detect deception. Special thermal cameras can now capture
subtle changes in temperature of the person’s face, usually around the eyes, that are
associated with physiological arousal. When these areas become warmer, they signal that the
person has reacted to the picture, word or question that was presented to him or her.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 19

10. Gesture Analysis

The movement of the hands, am, legs, and head can communicate underlying emotions and
attitudes, such as excitement, fear, trust, rejection and acceptance. For example, folded arms
are often an indication of rejection, while open gestures generally signal acceptance. Even an
individual use of interpersonal space can indicate aggression, suspicion, or familiarity.
Gestures are culture, context and personality dependent, and consequently there are no
universal indicators that rare reliable across all settings.

11. Use of Alcoholic Beverages

This method of detecting deception has been found effective by some investigators in
obtaining facts from person who are somehow reluctant in giving information.

12. Word Association Test

In this method, a group of word, objects or photographs will be presented and the principle of
time pressure is used. This was first devised by F. Galton in 1870 and later was modified and
improved by others such as Munsterberg, Orosland, Luria and Jung. In the Galton’s technique,
there are two main criteria of detecting indications of deception. These are: (1) incriminating
answer words, and (2) Delayed answer.

13. Use of Hypnotism

Among the scientific methods of detecting deception, this is one of the most unreliable means
considering that the subject in the test will be under the control of the hypnotist. The subject in
the test will be completely deprived of his free will to think and speak freely thus, all information
obtained are completely inadmissible as evidence in court.

14. Polygraphy

The polygraph examination, or much commonly known as lie detector test, is just one of the lie
detection techniques available today. In this process, the examiner focuses on the formulation
on the questions and on observing the responses and reactions of the subject to every
question that will be propounded to him. The instrument, on the other hand, will be the one
responsible to detect and record changes in physiological responses of the subject with focus
on cardiovascular activity, skin resistance and respiration. This will be discussed in the
proceeding chapters.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 20

NAME: __________________________________ COURSE: ________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________ DATE: ___________________________

DIRECTIONS: Identify what is being asked in each number. Write your answers in the blank.

_________________1. A test used to screen applicants for employment. Some private companies in
the Philippines require their applicants to undergo polygraph screening test.

_________________2. He was the first person known to use the term polygraph to describe one of
his inventions which could repeatedly rewrite words in 1970.

_________________3. It is an instrument that simultaneously record the changes of physiological

reactions in the human body as indicative of deception.

_________________4. It is the old and traditional type of instrument being used in polygraphy today.

_________________5. It is a test used to determine the honesty and integrity of the present
employee with the company.

_________________6. Under this ordeal, a man accused of sorcery is to be submerged in a steam; if

he survived, he is acquitted.

___________________7. It is complex interactive regulatory system by which the body strives to

maintain a state of internal equilibrium.

_________________8. It is a hormone secreted by the adrenal gland.

_________________9. It was introduced in the early middle Ages by the Church in an attempt to
discourage judicial deals among the Germanic peoples.

_________________10. What are the three stereotypic behavioral responses to threat?

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 21

NAME: __________________________________ COURSE: ________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________ DATE: __________________________

DIRECTIONS: Explain briefly the principle behind the physiology of lying. Write your answer on the
space provided.

NAME: __________________________________ COURSE: ________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________ DATE: ___________________________

1. DIRECTIONS: Differentiate lie detector test from polygraph examination.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 22

NAME: __________________________________ COURSE: ________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________ DATE: ___________________________

DIRECTIONS: Differentiate lie detector test from polygraph examination. Write your answer on the
space provided. .

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 23

NAME: __________________________________ COURSE: ________________________

ADDRESS: _______________________________ DATE: ___________________________

DIRECTIONS: Enumerate the different kinds of liar. Write your answer on the space provided.

LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES 24