ST.

JUDE THADDEUS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY

Borromeo Street, Surigao City

COLLEGE OF CRIMINOLOGY

FORENSIC 5- LIE DETECTION TECHNIQUES

Second Semester A.Y. 2022-2023

MODULE 1
 CHAPTER 1 - DECEPTION DETECTION TECHNIQUES
Overview: This chapter presents essential facts in the study of polygraphy, the theory behind the study
of polygraphy, pre-scientific methods of detcting, regular police methods, signs and sypmtoms of lying,
and the types of lies and liars.

Intended Learning Objectives:

At the end of the lessons, the students should be able to:
1. define and understand the terms used in the study.
2. recall and explain how the ancient methods of detecting deception conducted.
3. explain why person commits lie.
4. identify and describe the different signs of lying.
5. appreciate the essence of studying emotion in relation to the study of polygraphy.

Lesson Proper

Operational Terms

POLYGRAPH – is an instrument for the recording of changes in blood pressure; pulse rate, respiration
and skin resistance as indication of emotional disturbances especially of lying when questioned.
The word was derived from the word POLY means “many” and GRAPHS means “writing chart”.
POLYGRAPHY – it is the scientific method of detecting deception, using a polygraph machine.
FEAR – is emotional response to specific danger that appears to beyond a persons defensive power.
STIMULUS – is a force or motion reaching the organism and excites the receptors.
REACTION – it is an action in mental attitude evokes by external influence.
DECEPTION – is an act of deceiving or misleading usually accompanied by lying.
DETECTION – It is an act of discovery of existence, presence of fact or something hidden or obscure.
LYING – the uttering or conveying of falsehood or creating a false or misleading information with the
intention of affecting wrongfully the acts and opinion of other.
RESPONSE – is any activity or inhibition of the previous activity of an organism resulting from
stimulation.
SPECIFIC RESPONSE – is any deviation from the normal tracing of the subject.
NORMAL TRACING – is a tracing on the chart wherein the subject answered in the irrelevant question.
POLYGRAPH EXAMINER – is one who conducts and administer the test.
CHART OR POLYGRAMS – refers to the composite records of pneumograph, Galvanograph and
cardiosphygmograph tracings recorded from series of questions.
Subject – refers to the person being examined.

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF POLYGRAPH

1. Development of Pneumograph Component

a. Vittorio Benussi (1914)- he detected deception with a pneumograph, an instrument that graphically
measures the inhalation. He demonstarted the changes in breathing patterns by noting the changes in
respiration-expiration ratio during deception.
b. Harold Burtt (1918) – he determined that respiratory changes were indication of deception. He found
out that changes in systolic blood pressure were of greater value in determining deception than in
changes in respiration.
2. Development of Galvanograph
a. Luigi Galvani (1971)- he is an Italian physiologist who was accorded the distinction for developing the
galvanic skin reflex (GSR) or the galvanometer, which records electtrical bodily resistance in terms of
ohms (the lowest current ever recorded. The GSR reflected emotional changes in person’s skin
resistance through electricity.
b. Sticker (1897)- he made the first suggestion for using Galvanograph for detecting deception based on
the works of several predecessors.
He theorized that galvanic skin reflex is influenced by existing mental impression and that will have no
effect upon it.
c. Veraguth (1907)- he was the 1st one to use the term “psychogalvanic reflex”. He believed that the
electrical phenomenon is due to the activity of sweat glands.

3. Development of Cardio-Sphymograph
a. Angelo Mosso (1895)-he studied fear and its influence on the heart. His observation subsequently
formed the basis for detecting lies.He also 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.
b. Cesare Lombroso (1836-1909) – he employed the first scientific instrument to detect deception,
which is known as Hydrosphymograph, this instrument measures changes in pulse and blood pressure
when suspects were asked about their involvement or knowledge of specific crime.
He was accorded the distinction of being the 1st person to utilize an instrument for the purpose of
detecting lies.
c. William Moulton Marston (1915) – he was considered as the Father of the Modern Polygraphy. He
dealth with the sphymomanometer and made reasearches on the usefulness of sphygmomanometer in
detecting lies, which was used to obtain periodic discontinuous blood pressure reading during the
course of a test. He recorded the respiration and noted the time of subject’s verbal responses. He also
experimented with galvanometer to record skin resistance changes and a gripping device to record
tension.
d. John Larson (1921)- he developed an instrument that continually and simultaneously measures blood
pressure , pulse and respiration.
He designed the “first two recording channel polygraph” in the history. The 1st mechanical form of
detecting deception does not only have a recording pen for cardiosphymograph, pneumograph and
galvanograph but it also has the muscular movement pen for the arms and thighs.
e. Leonarde Keeler – in 1949, he invented the “Keeler Polygraph” which is an improvement of Larson’s
apparatus. With components for recording blood pressure, pulse rate and respiration changes. A
galvanometer, also known as the galvanic skin reflex or electrodermal response generally referred to as
the GSR. He also devised a metal bellows and designed a kymograph that pulled a constant speed, a
chart paper under the recording pens from a roll of chart papaer located inside the instrument.

Known Method of Deception Detection

a. Ancient Methods
b. Observation Methods
c. Regular Police Methods
d. Hypnotism
e. Word-Association Test
f. Truth-Serum Test/Intoxication
g. Polygraph Test Technique

A. The Ancient Methods

Historically, early human beings have their own way of determining lying or guilt on the part of
the accused and accuser. Their common method is thru the application of “ordeal”.
What is ordeal?
- a severe test of character or endurance; a trying course of experience.
- a medieval form of judicial trial in which the accused was subjected to physical tests, as carrying or
walking over burning objects or immersing the hand in scalding water, the result being considered a
divine judgment of guilt or innocence.
-Ordeal is an ancient method of trial in which the accused was exposed to physical danger which was
supposed to be harmless if he was innocent.

1. The Red-Hot Iron Ordeal

2. Ordeal of the Balance
3. Boiling Water Ordeal
4. Water Test Ordeal
5. The Smell-Out Technique
6. The Sacred ass Ordeal
7. Other known common practices, such as: rice-chewing, palm reading, card reading, winnower
& scissors, Spirit of the glass and etc.

B. The Observation Methods

 Through Facial Expressions such as:
blushing, paling, profuse sweating of forehead, squinting of the eyes, twitching of the lips, failure to look
the inquirer “straight into the eye”, a forced laugh, quivering of nose or nostrils, a peculiar monotone of
the voice, rolling of eyeballs.

 Through Postural Reactions such as:

Fidgeting, tapping or drumming of fingers on the chair or surfaces; swinging of legs, or one leg over the
other; unnecessary movements of hands and feet; pulsation of the carotid artery in the neck,
incoherence, trembling and sweating of the whole body.

 Through Cause-And_Effect Process, such as:

a. Stimulus-reaction test
b. Stimulus-Response test

C. Regular Police Method

This method sought to answer the legal investigation processes to the following:
1. The “Five Wives and One Husband” (5 W’s and 1 H)- which stands for what, when, who,
where, why and how.
2. The “Three Eyes” (3 I’s) which stands for
a. Information Gathering, thru records check, surveillance and intelligence check.
b. Investigation thru interrogation or interview, or thru admission or confession.
c. Instrumentation or Criminalistics (Police Science), with the use of different investigative
forensic sciences, such as:
a. Legal medicine/forensic medicine
b. Forensic chemistry
c. Police photography
d. Forensic ballistics
e. Questioned document examination
f. Dactyloscopy
g. Poygraphy
Distinction between Interview and Interrogation

Interview
Nature is voluntary.
Witness may or may not answer the questions.
Mode: merely asking of questions.
Answers or statements may be necessary to the case, or not
Subjects are often victims or witnesses.

Interrogation
Process is compulsory.
Suspect should answer the questions.
Technique: Questions should be propounded to the suspect.
Answers are very important either as confession or admission
Subjects are always the suspects

Distinction between Admission and Confession

Admission
It is a self-incriminatory statement of facts by the accused, that does not directly acknowledge the
offense committed, with which he is being charged.

Confession
It is a declaration of facts directly acknowledging the truth of the guilty as charged, or of some essential
part of the commission of the criminal act itself.

D. Hypnotism Method
Introduced by Franz (Friedrich)Anton Mesmer (1734-1815), an Austrian Mystic and Physician; born o
May 23, 1734 at Iznang, a village near Lake Constance, Austria.
It was introduced as a methos of deception detection in 1778.
REASONS: (why it is not admissible in court)
It lacks the general scientific acceptance of the reliability of hypnosis per se in ascertaining the
truth from falsity.
The fear that the Trier of fact will give uncritical and absolute reliability to a scientific device
without consideration of its flaw in ascertaining veracity.
-The possibility that the hypnotized subject will deliberately fabricate.
-The prospect that the state of heightened suggestibility in which the hypnotized subject is
suspected will produce distortion of the fact rather than the truth.

-The state of the mind, skill and professionalism of the examiner are too subjective to permit
admissibility of the expert testimony.

E. Word Association Test Method

It was introduced in 1879 by sir Francis Galton (1822-1911), an English Scientist Explorer and
Anthropometries.
Accordingly, this process is being done by giving the subject a long list of carefully selected stimulus
words or objects with other picturres interspersed with other irrelevant words, objects or pictures with
the instructions to respond with the very first word that may come to subject’s mind.
A list of stimulus and non-stimulus words are read to the subject who is instructed to answer as quickly
as possible.
Dr. Jung was able to observe how the thinking reactions were linked into the emotional habit of his
subject. The theory behind this method is that, one word or idea is reflective of another word or idea
and the expression of their association forms a meaningful picture.

F. Truth-Serum Test
Introduced by Dr. Edward Mandel House (1858-1938), a U.S. Physicist and Diplomat.
This method involved the intravenous injection or oral-taking of various drugs, such as hyocine bromide,
morphine, ether, chloroform, sodium amytal and scopolamine, which may produce a condition of
anesthesia.
Accordingly, this method is based on the theory, that intervention through interrogation, is made
possible after the dosage of any of these drugs has been appropriately administered, which depresses
the cerebral activity to a point of unconsciousness, an influence called as the “House receptive Stage” or
the “Twilight Zone”. The objective of the test is to extract from the subconscious mind, as the subject
himself is “half-asleep, the stored contents of the mind called “memory”.
It has been said, that if correct dosage is administered and the expected influence resulted, the subject
will answer by experiencing temporary removal of his will-power, self-preservationinstinct and the
reasoning power. He may disclose everything without evasiveness.
Statements taken from the subject through this process is not admissible as evidence in court because
its very nature is involuntary, but its application to criminal investigation is rather very useful due to its
psychological effect, before, during and even after.

Intoxication:
This method employs alcoholic beverages as stimuli to obtain truth. The subject whose statement is to
be taken is allowed to take alcoholic beverages to intoxication level or point. When under the influence
of alcohol, the power to control the body is diminished and the investigator begins propounding
questions.
Interrogation must be made only during the excitatory effect of the alcohol.
Confession made by a subject while intoxicated is admissible if he is physicall able to recollect the facts
and state them truly and exactly, even after the influence or the “spirit of alcohol” has disappeared. But
in most instances, the subject cannot rrecall his utterances or usually refuses to admit the truth of the
statement given.

G. The Polygraph Test Technique

This theory is based on the theory that, once a lie has been made, or that an emotion-evoking
stimulus(question) has been given, a conscious mental effort on the part of a normally conditioned
person will cause physical and physiological changes in the body. These changes likewise are capable of
being recorded, diagnosed and interpreted in the recording instrument called the “Polygraph”.

Kinds of Lie
1. White lie or Benign Lie- the most common of all, which is intended to protect or maintain harmony
of friendship, at home, in the office or elsewhere.
2. Pathological lie- this is a lie made by persons who cannot distinguish right from wrong.
3. Red lie- this involves political interest and motives because this is part of Communist propaganda
strategy. This lie is prevalent in communist countries or communist-infested nations.
4. Black lie- a lie which accompanies pretensions and hypocrisies, intriguing to cause dishonor or
discredit one’s good image.
5. Malicious or judicious lie- this is very pure and unjustifiable kind of lie. This intended purely to
mislead justice. Some liar lawyers and false witnesses fall under this category.
6. Lie of omission- this is a type of lie that people usually used because it is simple to tell. Individuals
who will make use of this type of lie will tell the truth while omitting details that could create possible
trouble.
7. Lie of fabrication- this is the most difficult type of lie that a subject could use in an interview.
8. Lie of minimization. In this type of lie, individual will accept that something has occured but
downplays the implication. It could be used if subject wanted to stay close to the truth, however, he
covers the truth for his or her own benefit.
9. Lie of exaggeration. This is commonly observed when a person is exaggerating things for the hope of
obtaining some advantage. This is often found on resume, where applicant exaggerates his or her
experiences, knowledge, skills, salary and length of service.

SOME SIGNS OF LIES AND DECEPTIONS

Generally, when a person becomes defensive due to fear or detection, one can point out that
any of these signs herein enumerated indicates lie, guilt, or deception, such as:
1. Swearing to God that he did not commit the crime.
2. Pointing his guilt to somebody else.
3. Subject refuses to answer questions thru alibis and excuses.
4. He is all the time absent-minded.
5. He is always requesting for repetition of questions.
6. He often asks counter-questions and counter-queries.
7. He often asks permission to go to comfort rooms, etc.

THREE ASPECTS OF EMOTION

1. Emotion as consciousness experience. This concerns human feelings in response to a wide variety of
inner and outer stimuli. Which are paramount important to our personal and social adjustment.
2. Emotion as motives. This involves human behavior with the motivating factors, a power directing
one’s behavior towards (Facilitation) or away (inferring) form objects and person in his environment.
a. Emotional motive as facilitating behavior: destruction, attack, fight, assault or offend
b. Emotional motive as inferring behavior: retreat, flight, surrender, hide or defend
3. Emotion as Response. This concerns bodily reaction, usually muscular or glandular process may either
external or internal one. It is in this 3rd aspect that the polygraph examiner has to keep his eyes wide
open to all the information regarding emotional response. The theory polygraph is base primarily upon
this 3rd aspect.
a. External response. This response is very much observable even without the aid of any
emotion/stress/recording instrument.
b. Internal response. Specifically known as “visceral” responses of the internal organs of the
body system and property of the human body as applied in the study of lie-detection with the
use or aid of a polygraph.

Lesson Exercises

I. Answer as directed.

1. Discuss the importance of polygraphy in criminal investigation.

Answer:
 2. Give a scenario of the following kinds of lie:
a. White or benign lie
Answer:

b. Black lie
Answer:

3. Explain why the result of hypnotism in detecting deception is not admissible as

evidence in court?
Answer:
II. A. Identification. Identify what aspect of emotion are the following. Write your answer
on the space provided.
______________________________________1. assault or offend
______________________________________2. hide or defend
______________________________________3. retreat
______________________________________4. Destruction
______________________________________5.This involves human behavior with the
motivating factors, a power directing one’s behavior towards (Facilitation) or away (inferring)
form objects and person in his environment.

B. Identify the following:

______________________________________6. He developed an instrument that continually
and simultaneously measures blood pressure , pulse and respiration.
______________________________________7. He also 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.
______________________________________8. He determined that respiratory changes were
indication of deception. He found out that changes in systolic blood pressure were of greater
value in determining deception than in changes in respiration.
______________________________________9. He theorized that galvanic skin reflex is
influenced by existing mental impression and that will have no effect upon it.
______________________________________10. He was considered as the Father of the
Modern
Polygraphy.
______________________________________11. this is a type of lie that people usually used
because it is simple to tell. Individuals who will make use of this type of lie will tell the truth
while omitting details that could create possible trouble.
______________________________________12. this is very pure and unjustifiable kind of lie.
This intended purely to mislead justice.
______________________________________13. this is a lie made by persons who cannot
distinguish right from wrong.
______________________________________14. This method employs alcoholic beverages as
stimuli to obtain truth.
______________________________________15. this method is based on the theory, that
intervention through interrogation, is made possible after the dosage of any of these drugs has
been appropriately administered, which depresses the cerebral activity to a point of
unconsciousness, an influence called as the “House receptive Stage” or the “Twilight Zone”.
REFERENCES
1. Montalba. Montalba’s Compilation in Criminalistics. Copyright 2014.
2. Delizo, Carlito. Criminalistics. Copyright 2013.
3. Hibionada, M. R. Polygraph- A tool in Investigation. Copyright 2013.
4. Adra; Tancangco. The Essential of Polygraphy. Copyright 2013.
5. Cirilo M. Tradio. A Compendium on Criminalistics. 1997 First Edition.
6. Villarmia, Jun C., PhD. Lecture Guide in Polygraphy. Revised 2017.

Prepared by: REYMA G. SANDIGAN, RCRIM.

Instructor

Approved by: MAYLONA B. PALEN

VP- Academics