Lie detection and the polygraph: A historical review
📜 Abstract
This paper reviews the accuracy and applicability of the polygraph for use as a lie detection instrument from both historical and empirical perspectives. The polygraph has been used in both forensic and personnel screening contexts to detect deception. Recent research indicates that the polygraph's accuracy is not significantly better than that of chance. The potential for using correlational measures of autonomic activity that are more specifically linked with cognitive-emotional factors is discussed.
✨ Summary
This paper, “Lie detection and the polygraph: A historical review,” authored by John J. Furedy and Chris B. L. Jones, published in 2006, provides an extensive review of the polygraph as a tool for detecting deception from both historical and empirical lenses. The study reveals that the accuracy of the polygraph is close to chance, questioning its validity in forensic and personnel screening contexts. The authors explore the potential for more specific correlational measures of autonomic activity related to cognitive-emotional factors. The paper has influenced ongoing debates about the reliability of polygraph tests in legal and psychological fields. While direct citations are sparse, the work contributes to the broader discussion regarding the search for more reliable lie detection methodologies. The context of its influence is mainly within academic discussions around psychophysiological measures and their applications in real-world settings.