Honesty: The Accuracy Of Polygraph

Introduction to Polygraphs Polygraphs are viewed by the public and presented by the media as the ultimate lie detectors, but those familiar with its scientific dynamic recognize that the popular allegations of its accuracy are not entirely true themselves. This paper will briefly discuss the significance and importance of polygraphs, which may have given rise to the spurious belief in its accuracy. It will then cover the basics of the most common method of polygraph testing before proceeding to elaborate on the accuracy of polygraphs. Finally, due to the importance of an accurate lie detector for our society, an alternative and more promising method of lie detection is briefly discussed, along with its limitations.

Importance and Application

For the time being, the concealed information test (CIT) seems to be the most popular alternative, even though its structure only enables it to work for investigations, and not employee screening (Verschuere 2005). During the CIT, examiners read aloud multiple choice questions about the crime while the suspect is attached to the polygraph machine (Walczyk 2013). So far, the CIT has been more accurate than the GKT (Walczyk 3013). In order to work, the intervals between the answers must be long enough to clearly identify which answer, if any, the suspect reacts to. It is theorized that the orienting reflex and the defensive reflex are triggered when details are recognized, which is why the suspect cannot suppress the sympathetic nervous system's reactions (Verschuere 2004). Since it is the reactions, rather than the answers, that the polygraph machine measures, it is not necessary for suspects to answer the questions in order for the CIT to be effective (Walczyk 2013). Since only guilty suspects would recognize and react to a detailed description of a crime, the theory is that the guilty suspect is the only one whose physiological reactions will consistently coincide with accurate depictions of the crime (Verschuere 2005; Verschuere 2004; Walczyk 2013). The premise seems to be generally sound, as the accuracy of the CIT is estimated to be about 76%-83%, and thus is a promising venue for future research and refinement. (Verschuere