Lie Detection

Techniques
Prepared by: Oliver G. Ferrer
 History of the
Development of
Polygraph
• The best-known method of detecting deception
is the use of the polygraph technique often
incorrectly referred as the “lie detector”.
• Polygraphy refers to the scientific method of
detecting deception with the use of the
polygraph instrument (machine).
• The word polygraph is composed of two words;
“poly” which means many and “graph” which
means writings.
• Literally the word polygraph means many
writings.
oPolygraph refers to an instrument
designed for recording changes
in blood pressure, pulse,
respiration, and skin resistance as
indicative of emotional
disturbance especially of lying
when questioned.
 Definition of
Important Terms
oPolygraph - is a device or instrument
capable of recording internal bodily
changes such as blood pressure, pulse rate,
respiration, and electro dermal properties of
the skin (galvanic skin reflex) which are
indicative of emotional disturbances
especially of lying, when questioned.
oPolygraphy – is defined as the scientific
method of detecting deception through the
use or aid of polygraph.
o Polygraph Examiner – means any person
who uses any device or instrument to test or
questioned individuals for the purpose of
detecting deception.
o Subject/Examinee – means the person who
undergoes a detection of deception
examination.
o Chart or Polygrams – refers to the composite
records of the pneumograph ,
galvanograph and cardiosphygmograph
tracing recorded from series of questions.
o Deception – is an act of deceiving or misleading
usually accompanied by lying.
o Detection – is an act of discovering the existence,
presence of fact of something hidden or obscure.
o Emotion – is an agitation, disturbance or tumultuous
physical or social movement constituting a
departure from the calm state of the organism as
includes strong feeling, an impulse to overt action
and internal bodily changes in respiration,
circulation and granular action.
o Fear – is an emotional response to specific
dangers that appears to be potentially
beyond a person’s defensive powers.
o Lying – is the uttering or conveying
falsehood or creating a false or misleading
impression with the intention of affecting
wrongfully the acts, opinion or affection of
another.
o Normal Response – is the tracing on the
charts wherein the subject answered in the
irrelevant questions.
o Reaction – it is an action or mental attitude evoked
by an external influence.
o Response – is any activity or inhibition of a previous
activity of an organism or an affected organ or part
of the organism resulting from stimulation.
o Specific Response – is one that is exhibited by a
subject to particular questions, which constitute a
deviation from the subject individual norm.
o Stimulus – is the force or motion reaching the
organism from the environment and excites the
receptors.
History
In the middle of the 19th century, Dr. Hans
Gross, an Australian known as the Father
of Criminalistics, defined “search for truth”
as the basis and goal of all criminal
investigations.
Sir James Mackenzie, a medical doctor
and famous English heart specialist, who
first described the instrument entitled “The
Ink Polygraph”, was published in the British
Medical Journal in 1907.
This ink polygraph is intended solely for medical
purposes, to be fundamentally the same as the blood
pressure-pulse and respiration recorders used for lie
detection purposes.

Sphygmograph. - An instrument for recording the

arterial pulse rate on a graph (from Greek word
SPHUGMOS, the PULSE+GRAPH)
Sphygmomanometer. - An instrument for
measuring blood pressure, especially of the
arteries.
Personalities
behind
Polygraph
 Development of Cardio-
Sphygmograph

Angelo Mosso (1895) - He studied

fear and its influence on the heart. His
observation subsequently formed the
basis for detecting technique.
 He developed the
sphygmomanometer and
“scientific cradle”, which was
designed to measure the flow
of blood while a person lay on
his back in a prone position.
 The “cradle” consisted of a
large, heavy table at the
center of which was a delicate
knife-edge fulcrum
 Cesare Lombroso
(1836-1909)
• He employed the first scientific
instrument to detect deception to
actual criminal suspects on several
occasions while assisting the police
in the identification of criminals,
which is known as
Hydrosphygmograph. He was
accorded the distinction of being
the first person to utilize an instrument
for the purpose of detecting lies.
Dr. William Moulton Marston (1915)

•- An American Scientist.
•- After years of research, he devised the
Systolic Blood Pressure Deception Test, which
consisted of intermittent recordings of a
suspect’s systolic blood pressure during
questioning using a standard medical blood
pressure cuff and stethoscope, requiring
repeated inflation of the pressure cuff to
obtain readings at intervals during the
examination. Hence, it was also called the
“discontinuous technique.”
 John Larson (1921)
• he developed an instrument that continually
and simultaneously measures blood pressure
and respiration.
• He designed the first two recording channel
polygraph in the history .The first mechanical
form of detecting deceptions because it
does not only have a recording pen for
cardiosphygmograph, pneumograph and
galvanograph but also it has the muscular
movement pen for the arm and thighs.
 Leonarde Keeler
• he developed an improvement of Larson’s
recorded relative changes in blood
pressure, pulse rate, and respirations
patterns.
• However, Keeler developed a metal
bellows, also known as a tambour, which
was connected by mechanical actuating
devices to small fountain pens.
• he invented the “Keeler Polygraph”.
Today, Leonarde Keeler is known as the
“Father of modern polygraph.”
Development of
Pneumograph
Component
 Vittorio Benussi (1913-1914)

• he presented his experiment regarding

respiratory symptoms of lying and he
detected deception by changes in the
inspiration and expiration or the breathing
pattern.
Harold Burtt (1918)
• He determined that respiratory
changes were indication of
deception.
• He found out that changes in
systolic blood pressure were a
greater value in determining
deception than in changes in
respiration.
 Richard Arther
• He is the first polygraphist
to record simultaneously
on regular basis chest and
abdominal breathing
patterns.
Development of
galvanograph
 Luigi Galvani
(1791)

• He is an Italian psychologist
who was accorded the
distinction for developing the
galvanic skin reflex (GSR) or
the galvanometer, which
records electrical bodily
resistance in term of ohms, the
lowest current ever recorded.
 • He made the first applications
of the psycho galvanometer
Sticker to forensic problems and for
(1897) detecting deception based
on the works of several
predecessors.
 Veraguth (1907)

• He was the first one to use the

term “psychogalvanic reflex”. He
believed that the electrical
activity resulted from sweat
glands, which are controlled by
the autonomic nervous system.
Development
of Questioning
Technique
Leonarde Keeler (1942)
• He developed the “relevant –
irrelevant” test. Theory of this test is that
guilty reacts only to relevant questions
and innocent shows no reactions.
• the “personally embarrassing” (EPQ) to
his relevant – irrelevant technique.
• it was found that both the innocent and
the guilty reacted to the question.
• Today Leonarde Keeler is known as the
fatherof polygraph.
• He included un-reviewed control
question or “surprise question” that
serves the same purpose as the EPQ.
• . Keeler is also credited with introducing
the “card test”.
John E. Reid (1950)
• He developed the
“reviewed control question”
consisting of a know lie
incorporated into relevant –
irrelevant test.
Cleve Backster (1960)
• Backster conceived the psychological sit theory
that form the basis of his zone of comparison
technique that provides constant monitoring of
the subjects reactivity and designed to disclose
outside issue. This is known as the “Backster Zone
Comparison Technique Test”.
Early Publications
of Polygraph
 Sir James
Mackenzie (1906)
• A famous heart specialist.
• It was said that “polygraph” exist
as early as 1906 but it is not
being used to detect deception.
• He first described the instrument
in an article entitled “The Ink
Polygraph” which appeared in
the British Medical journal in
1908.
Vittorio Benussi
(1953)
• He presented a paper
before the second
meeting of the Italian
Society for Psychology
in Rome, on the subject
of his experiments
regarding respiratory
symptoms of lying.
Richard O. Archer (1953)

• The first polygraphist to record

simultaneously two galvanic skin
reflexes.
• he founded the Journal of
polygraph science, the oldest of
the polygraph publications.
 Richard I. Golden (1969)

• He presented a paper at the annual

Seminar of American Polygraph
Association at Houston, Texas
regarding the experiments using
existing control question techniques
but requiring the subjects to answer
each question twice.
Other Pioneers in the
Field of Deception
Detection
 Francis Galton (1879)
• He developed the much
acclaimed psychological test
known as the Word Association
Test,.
• Dr. Carl Guztav Jung later
developed the work and
experiment of Galton.
 Hugo Musternberg

• He suggested the forensic

application of the word
association technique in
detecting deception.
 Allen Bell (1972)
• He is an inventor who
developed a device
called Psychological
Stress Evaluator (PSE).
Frank Anton Mesmer
• he was the first one to
introduce hypnotism as
a method of detecting
deception.
 Early
Methods of
Detection of
Deception
Before the foundation of scientific criminal
interrogation and investigation, almost all countries
have their own way of determining the truth and
deception, and in fact some of it are still in
practice. When the very first law had been laid
down by authority we believe that such authority
have their own way of processing the suspected
crime offenders and such way becomes the
traditional basis of the present practice in dealing
with the offenders. Moreover, such traditional
practices had been modernized to suit the need
of the community and society in terms of cultural
acceptance, law and jurisprudence.
 Trial by Combat
• This trial was characterized by a fight
between the accused and the accuser or it
either the accuser will hire a combatant or
fighter (mercenary or gladiator) to fight the
accused. Very few used a beast in this trial
that prove guilt and innocence of the
accused, though history tells that beast had
been used in trial by combat.
 Trial by Ordeal
• Ordeal is a practice of referring disputed questions to the
judgment of God, determined either by lot or by certain
trials. Throughout Europe the ordeal existed in various
forms under the sanction of law and was closely related
to the oath. In the Middle Ages in Europe people
commonly believed that guilt or innocence could be
determined by God through “Trial by Ordeal”. Legalists
believe that this kind of approach is a product of
“MYTHS”. Myths are distorted beliefs based upon emotion
rather than rigorous analysis.
 Deception
• The act of deceiving or misleading through
misrepresentation usually accomplished by means of
lying.

Lying
• Theuttering or conveying falsehood or creating false
impressions affecting acts, opinions or affections of
another. It is done through:
Verbal terms spoken by the mouth
Acts, feigns or ruses through marks, signs and symbols
 Detection
• The act of discovering the existence or
presence of something hidden or obscured.

Stimulus
• Theforce or motion reaching the organism
from the environment and excites the
perceptors.
Methods of Ordeal
in Detecting
Deception
 Red Hot Iron Ordeal
• thisform of trial was used among
the hill tribes of Rajhamal in the
north of Bengal (India) where the
accused was apt to be told to
prove his innocence by applying his
tongue to red hot iron nine times
(unless burned sooner).
 The Red Water Ordeal
• the accused fast for twelve hours, swallow a small
amount of rice, then imbibes of the dark colored
water sometimes as much as a gallon. If this acts
as an emetic and the suspect ejects all of the rice,
he is considered innocent of the charged;
otherwise he is judged guilty. Their explanation is
that a fetish of the victims enters the mouth with
the emetic red water, examines the heart of the
drinker, and if it finds him innocent brings up with
rice in evidence.
 The Boiling Water Ordeal
• as a test for deception, this ordeal is in use in
modern Africa.
• During explorations in British Africa, a Barotse
native in her retinue stole a calico cloth from
her supplies, and to find the thief she allowed
the natives to employ a test which had
previously been outlawed along local
witchcraft.
 The Rice Chewing Ordeal
• Concentrated rice is the article chosen,
instead of bread and cheese.
• itis formed with a kind of rice called
“sathee”, prepared with various incantations.
• The person on the trial eats the rice then spits
upon an eyeful leaf. If the saliva is mixed with
blood or the corner of his mouth swell of he
trembles, he is declared then a liar.
 The Balance Ordeal

• this is practiced of testing the veracity of

the accused by placing him on one scale
of balance.
• It
merely this, in one scale the accused
was in the other, a counterbalance.
 Combination of Drinks and Food
Ordeal
• An ordeal practiced by the West African
region where the accused first fasted for 12
hours and the given small amount of rice to
eat followed by large amount of black
colored water.
 Trial by Combat

• A fight between the accuser and the accused, whoever lost

the battle will be the adjudged guilty.
• Originated in India where an accuser could hire somebody
or bigger one to fight the accused.
• After the fight the loser will be adjudged as guilty of crime. It
became the legal ordeal in England during the time of “King
Henry III.”
 Trial by Torture
• Theaccused was put into a severe
physical test. If the accused can
endure such torture, he will be
considered innocent.
 Drinking Ordeal

• The accused was given a decoction to

drink by a priest – if innocent; no harm
befalls him, but if guilty, will die.
Practiced in Nigeria and India.
 Trial of the Eucharist
• This
trial is reserved for the clergy, and
administered with pomp and ceremony.
• If the accused was guilty, it was
believed that Angel Gabriel will
descend from heaven and prevent the
accused from swallowing the food
given to him.
 Ordeal by Heat and Fire

•The accused was compelled to walk

bare footed through a fire; if he
remains unhurt then he is innocent.
 Ordeal of Boiling Oil or Water

•The accused was forced to dip his

hands into the boiling water oil and
ask to pick up stone in it.
•If he remains unhurt then he is
innocent.
 Ordeal of Red Hot Needle

•Ared hot needle was drawn through

the lips of the accused, if innocent, no
blood will be seen flowing out.
 Ordeal of the Tiger

•Accuser and accused were placed

together in the same and a tiger set
loose upon them. If both were
spared, further elimination followed
 Test of the Cross Ordeal

• The accuser and accused each were

made to stand with arms crossed on
their breast. The one who endured
the longest was deemed to have told
the truth, the other, is the liar.
 The Donkey Tail Ordeal

•A donkey was placed in one room

alone and was observed. If the
donkey cried as judge of the guilty of
crimes, then the accused is guilty.
 Ordeal
Practiced in
other Countries
 Burma
• The accuser and accused were
given each identical candle and
both were lightened at the same
time. The holder of the candle that
consumed faster was adjudged the
liar.
 Borneo
• The accuser and accused were presented
by shellfish placed on a plate. An irritating
fluid was then poured on the shell fish and
the litigant whose shellfish moved first was
adjudged the winner.
 Greece
•A suspended axe was spun at the
center of a group of suspects. When
the axe stopped, whoever was in line
with the blade was supposed to be
guilty as pointed out by the divine
providence.
 Nigeria
•The priest greased a feather and
pierced the tongue of the accused.
If the feather passed through the
tongue easily, the accused was
deemed innocent.
 Europe and Early United States (17th
Century)
• Trial by water commonly used on those
accused of witchcraft. The accused was
bound (hand and foot) and then cast into
the body of water.
• If the accused sank, he was hauled to the
surface half-drowned and deemed
innocent. If he floated, he was deemed
guilty and burned to death.
Scientific Methods
of Detection of
Deception
•It is the method of gathering and
knowing from the subject about the
crime dispute or the question of
issue employing the use of machine
or device, drugs or substances and
other accessory means.
 Hypnotism
• This method was introduced by an Austrian
Physician Franz (Friedrich) Anton Mesmer
(1734-1815) in 1778.
• He believed in animal magnetism, by which
in his own personal electro – magnetism,
therapeutic effect influenced other
persons.
 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 is suspended will produce
distortion of the fact rather than the truth.
• The state of the mind and professionalism of the examiner
are too subjective to permit admissibility of the expert
testimony.
 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 (1875-1961) – a
Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist and founder of
Analytical Psychology.
• The basic practice is to present orally or visually a
group of words each word sufficiently separated in
time from the others so that subjects response to it.
 The Truth Serum Method

• Thismethod was introduced by Dr. Edward

Mandel House (1858-1938), a U.S Physicist and
diplomat and confidential adviser to former U.S.
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.
 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:

• Thetest must be performed by skilled experimenter, operator,

technician, or physician.
• The subject expresses his consent to undergo the test.
• The dosage of drug 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.
 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 Soduim Amytal or Soduim Pentothal
is administered to the subject.
 Intoxication
• Thiswas 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.
• Under this method, there is eventually lack
of self-control of the subject under
intoxication.
 The Psychological Stress Evaluation (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.
• When a person is under stress as when he is lying,
the micro tremor in the voice utterance is
moderately or completely or completely
suppressed.
 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 question are used to
gain the so called “Three Eyes” (3 I’s) of
investigation refers to the following:
 Information gathering
• through record check, surveillance and intelligence check.
Investigation
• through interrogation and/or interview to obtain admission or
confession.
Instrumentation
• through criminalistics processes with the use of the different
investigative forensic sciences such as medico legal or
forensic medicine, forensic chemistry, forensic photography,
forensic ballistics, questioned documents examination,
dactyloscopy, and polygraphy or deceptography.