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Understanding Polygraph Tests in Forensics

The document discusses Deception Detection Tests (DDT), particularly focusing on polygraph tests, which measure physiological responses to assess honesty during criminal investigations. It details the history, methodology, and types of polygraph techniques, while also highlighting the potential for errors and false positives due to emotional triggers and mental states. To reduce inaccuracies, pre-test interviews are conducted to familiarize subjects with the testing process.

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6 views2 pages

Understanding Polygraph Tests in Forensics

The document discusses Deception Detection Tests (DDT), particularly focusing on polygraph tests, which measure physiological responses to assess honesty during criminal investigations. It details the history, methodology, and types of polygraph techniques, while also highlighting the potential for errors and false positives due to emotional triggers and mental states. To reduce inaccuracies, pre-test interviews are conducted to familiarize subjects with the testing process.

Uploaded by

abhay
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

FORENSICS: DDT or Deception Detection Tests comprise of polygraph test, brain mapping

and narco analysis and Brain Electrical Acvtivation Profile (BEAP). The test in question is
referred to as a polygraph test.

The introduction of the polygraph tests for the purposes of a


criminal investigation can be traced back to the experiments that were done by criminologist
Lombroso who had used a machine on a suspect to gauge the blood pressure and pulse to
assess the honesty of the person suspected of the crime. The rationale behind this is if the
person in question is lying during the criminal investigation, then these tests can used and
when the suspect will be unconscious, the body of the suspect in such unconsciousness will
produce certain chemical reactions which will be different when the person will be conscious.

There are instruments such as cardiographs, pneumographs,


sensitive electrodes and cardio cuffs which are attached to the subject and the readings and
the outcomes from the instruements are then read, gauged and analysed by the examiner
conducting the tests and hence, the credibility of the answers of the suspected person is
checked. This is because, if the person in question is lying, his pulse rate and heart beats,
respiration, blood pressure and galvine skin resistance will change and these physiological
responses will occur once the questions are asked by the examiner and the same will be
measured. These responses are different from the ones that might have been answered by the
suspected person in a conscious or a normal course. This polygraph examination technique is
of three types, namely the relevant-irrelevant technique, the control-question technique and
the directed lie detector technique.

There also exists a scope for error and false positives as these
polygraph tests can also lead to arousal of fear and distress due to anxiety and other
emotional triggers in response to the questions and also due to the surroundings. Due to these
limitations there lies a margin of error as these physiological responses could not only be
trigerred by deception but by nervousness and confusion and also the surroundings which can
also distort the response of the suspect in question. Hence, these distortions can be avoided to
an extent if the surroundings are different. In furtherance to this, not only do these emotional
triggers and surroundings matter, but also the mental state of the subject matters because the
person in question, if suffering from depression, anxiety or hypertension then this will
definitely distort the responses of the person. Errors are also possible due to memory-
hardening as this is a process by which the subject has created and consolidated false
memories with reagards to a particular incident and this can occur due to difficulty in
recollection of traumatic events. To mitigate this to an extent, the examiners conduct a pre-
test interview so as to acquaint the subject with the test procedure and finalize the questions
that will be asked. This will help in mitigating the possibility of fear, distress and emotional
surprise.

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