1) Summarize the means by which the polygraph works as a lie detector. What two major problems call its accuracy into question?
A lie detector is an electronic device that records an individual’s physiological arousal when asked yes or no questions. There are two types of questions that the examiner will ask the individual in order to measure the individual’s arousal. The first types of questions are questions relevant to the crime being investigated. The second types of questions are called control questions. These questions are unrelated to the crime. Asking these questions allows the examiner to determine if the individual shows more physiological arousal when asked questions relating to the crime rather than questions that are non-related. In other words, if the individual becomes more aroused when answering the non-related questions, he or she is judged as innocent. In contrast, if the individual becomes more aroused when asked about the specific crime, he or she is judged as guilty (Kassin, Fein & Markus, 2010).
The questions are only one part of describing how the lie detector works. The examiner has to have a way for the arousal to be noticed. The lie detector works by placing sensors on several body parts. For example, rubber tubes are strapped around the upper body in an effort to measure the individual’s breathing. Cuffs to measure the individual’s pulse rate are put on the arms. Finally, electrodes, which detect perspiration or activity of the sweat glands, are placed on the fingertips. Once all the sensors are in place, the signals are converted into a visual presentation for the examiner to analyze (Kassin, Fein & Markus, 2010).
The lie detector was designed to detect any signs of deception. In other word...
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...ample when a child is interviewed or questioned it is important to eliminate suggestibility because the child will confuse the truth with fantasy. In turn, using a non-bias and objective approach to interviewing or questioning will help the children recall the correct memory (Loftus, Leitner & Berstein, 2011).
Works Cited
Kassin, Fein, & Markus. (2010). Social psychology with study guide (8th ed.). Cengage learning: Mason, OH
Loftus, E.F., Leitner, R.L., Berstein, D.M. (2011). Reconstructive memory. Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www.education.com/reference/article/reconstructive-memory/
Reconstructive memory: Confabulating the past, simulating the future. (2006). Retrieved March 2, 2011, from http://www.google.com/search?q=neurophilosophy%3A+constructive+memory&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&sourceid=ie7&rlz=1I7GGLL_en
One of the last types of ways investigators are coached to detect deception is in the behavioral attitudes of a person being interviewed such as being unconcerned or over anxious (Kassin, 2005). The success rate of looking for these cues are very successful in telling if an individual is being deceitful and has surpassed any laboratory tests conducted on the subject. The laboratory test however did reveal some interesting facts. The research showed that people who had training and experience did not score better than the control group who received no training. In fact all individuals scored at the chance level with the people who had training scored just above chance or at the chance level. To check if special training in the detection of deception was more accurate a study ...
In Laurence Armand French Ph.D. and Thomas J. Young Ph.D.’s article The False Memory Syndrome: Clinical/Legal Issues for the Prosecution talks about memory recall being an unreliable form of evidence in the Criminal Justice System. French and Young state that hypnosis and lie detector tests are a misconception because “the cognitive interpretations of the emotional/autonomic aspects of the central nervous (CNS) and peripheral nervous systems are not true indicators of reality,” (p. 38).
The rates for false-negative classifications, on the other hand, have been much higher, especially in the field, with up to 58% of undetected guilty subjects (Elaad, 1990). However, the study referred to is critically discussed, as the CIT was carried out under subpar conditions and substantial differences between laboratory settings and real-life situations exist. The perception and memory of crime related details is different as optimal conditions that can be provided in laboratory settings are not given in the field. Various factors may interfere with the test, such as that some relevant information might be overlooked especially during strong excitement. In experimental setups information to which subjects are exposed to can be controlled. In order to address this issue, only items that seem plausible and recognized by most people (at least 80%), whether they possess crime knowledge or not, should be used (Lykken, 1981). Therefore, to receive lower rates on false-negative classifications, the CIT conditions in the field should duplicate the laboratory settings as closely as possible. Another point of criticism was the use of a single measure as an indicator of deception. Studies have shown that combined physiological measurements amount to superior results over individual measurements (Gamer, Verschuere, Crombez & Vossel,
The second stage of memory processing is storage. Aronson et al. (2013) defines storage as the process by which people store the information they just acquired. Unfortunately, memories are affected by incoming information through alteration or reconstruction. This phenomenon is referred to as recon...
The modal model of memory is one of the most basic models that describes memory today. It involves the three stages named sensory memory, short-term memory, and Long-term memory and how each stage transfers information from one to another (Hockenbury & Hockenbury, 2012). Healy and McNamara (1996) explained how the original modal model of memory, developed in 1890, consisted of only the primary and secondary memory. The primary memory was defined as, “…that which is held momentarily in consciousness…” and the secondary memory was defined to be, “…unconscious but permanent [memory].” As time progressed, the primary memory was then referred to as “short-term memory” while the secondary memory started to be called “Long-term memory”. In 1968, Atkinson and Shiffrin added what is now called “sensory memory” to the list, which consists of sensory registers for sight, sound and even touch. This new modal model of memory that is currently used also explains the transitions between short and Long-term memory.
Heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductivity are monitored during the lie detector test, those responses can be controlled. Steve Elias writes, “Some people are so divorced from morality or a guilty conscience that they may test honest – because they are really good
Grubin, D., & Madsen, L. (2005). Lie detection and the polygraph: A historical review. Journal
Garry, M., & Palaschek, D. L. (2000). Imagination and Memory. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 6-9.
When we asked the question of how we remember, forget, and learn has been the topic of lots of discussions. Examining how importantly the successes and fails of our memory skills affect our lives, this interest seems exceedingly justified. We count on our memories for lots of what we do like whenever we do identifying, appreciating, and responding right according to the objects and persons we interact in our environment and to the actions in which we take part in writing, speaking, reading, or else communicating in thinking, reasoning, and problem solving, and also to recall the past about our experiences. That is our memory, which holds, and allows us to use, the knowledge we have get about ourselves and the life and that catches the ways in which we have configured to the world so as to better cope with it. There is so much we de...
The investigator uses information gathered during the first phase to tailor interrogation for the specific subject. Walters describes the interrogator's task of “breaking the cycle of deception” during the interrogation; this includes
A lie detector is a machine that tries to detect if a person is lying (“Lie detector.”31 of 2). Over the centuries different people and cultures have tried to find a way to see if someone is lying. The Chinese would make a person who was a suspect of a crime chew and spit out some rice powder after being questioned. If the powder was dry the person was guilty because they thought someone whose mouth is dry is guilty and if it was moist they were innocent (Lie detector1 1 of 2). Also the english would give a suspect a slice of bread and cheese if they could swollow it they were innocent, but if they could not they were guilty this is saying that people would have trouble swolling if they were guilty (Lie detector1 1 of 2). “The first scientific instrument designed to measure physiological respones to questioning was used in 1895 by an italian criminologist, Cesare Lombroso, he took an existing device called a hydrosphygmegraph – a small, water-filled tank in which a subjects hand was submerged. The tank was then sealed by a thin sheet of rubber. Any changes in the subject’s pulse or blood pressure would be transferred through the hand to the water and would change the water level. When the water level changed, a difference in air pressure resulted. The air pressure was monitored by an air-filled tube connected to a revolving drum. Lombroso’s device coud detect any physical changes in pulse and blood pressure. Some...
...pporting details. At the conclusion of the article, the authors share their thoughts on how it might be virtually impossible to determine when a memory is true or false. I also like their willingness to continue the investigations despite how difficult it might be to obtain concrete answers.
Memory is the tool we use to learn and think. We all use memory in our everyday lives. Memory is the mental faculty of retaining and recalling past experiences. We all reassure ourselves that our memories are accurate and precise. Many people believe that they would be able to remember anything from the event and the different features of the situation. Yet, people don’t realize the fact that the more you think about a situation the more likely the story will change. Our memories are not a camcorder or a camera. Our memory tends to be very selective and reconstructive.
One of the components of Reid approach is training the interrogators to establish whether a suspect is lying or telling the truth by evaluating the nonverbal and verbal behavior during the interview. Many people question the effectiveness of interrogation training in assisting to discern truth from suspects. According Professor Richard Leo, people are poor in drawing accurate judgments of deception and truth (Leo, 2013). The behavior prompts used police are not diagnostic of deception, the investigators cannot differentiate false from truth denials of guilt, and yet they maintain they draw accurate
The lie detector Sometimes known as polygraph. But its not really reliable. They basically base these lie detectors off of nervousness. Like the old times. They made people lick hot irons, put rice powder in your mouth see if you would spti it out, and even try to swallow bread and cheese. (Source #3, Paragraph 2). Now days the check blood pressure, Skin resistance, pulse, and also breathing. But people can easily get nervous. They might even get nervbous to come into an office to be accused of a crime. What if your the wrong person and they come ask you to lick a iron. I bet you would be nervous too. So most people think that the shouldnt base lie detectors off of nervousness.