PSY510 PSY 510 module-Short Paper 1: The Scientific Skeptic- Snhu

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PSY510 PSY 510 module-Short Paper 1: The Scientific Skeptic- Snhu

Many people have heard of polygraph or “lie detector” tests. They have commonly been seen on television shows such as Maury and The First 48. The polygraph test is done using a polygraph machine. This machine is designed to document the body’s involuntary response to the questions that the examiner is asking (Epic, 2015). The machine is said to pick up deception based on the person’s behavior. The polygraph test calculates the physiological data from three or more systems of the human body (Epic, 2015).

PSY510 PSY 510 module-Short Paper 1: The Scientific Skeptic- Snhu

The bodily systems used are the respiratory, cardiovascular, and sweat-gland systems (Epic, 2015). The person’s tone of voice is not evaluated. There are some forms of polygraph tests that analyze the voice to detect deception. The word “polygraph” means many writings (Epic, 2015). This is a very fitting name since the test records more than one activity at once. The first lie detector test was invented in 1917 by William M. Marston (Epic, 2015). His claim was that he could reveal a person being deceptively looking at their systolic blood pressure (the top number).

PSY510 PSY 510 module-Short Paper 1: The Scientific Skeptic- Snhu

Today the test is primarily done and used by law enforcement, businesses, and judicial sectors (Epic, 2015). Looking at everything as a hold one can only think about if the polygraph test truly works. Looking at how the test works and the abundance of information online regarding ways to “beat” a polygraph test; my hypothesis is lie detector tests are not a reliable method of detecting deception. The test measures the body’s response, in which a person can alter their response in a way that will interfere with the test and its results. Some ways that people trick the test is by taking medications such as sedatives to limit the amount of anxiety they may have, using a deodorant that has antiperspirant in it to stop the person from sweating and even biting portions of their mouth.

PSY510 PSY 510 module-Short Paper 1: The Scientific Skeptic- Snhu

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