ST.
JOSEPH COLLEGE-OLONGAPO, INC
CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT
SUBJECT : Lie Detection
Topics : Polygraphy and Lie detecting
Sub -Topics : Methods of Detecting Deception, its early methods and methods by
observation. The Forerunner of Scientific Methods, methods by police works, modern method &
Timeline of the Modern Polygraph
METHODS OF DETECTING DECEPTION
Techniques were founded in superstitions and/or the religious belief that “God would in some
way reveal the truth and disallow the immorality”. Many of these attempts, in fact, had some
psychological and physiological basis; other methods relied solely on fear of continued pain and
torture.
Archaeologically, early human beings have their own way of determining lie or guilt on the
part of the accused and accuser. Their common method is thru the application of “ordeal”. It is also a
term of varying meaning closely related in Medieval Latin” Dei Indicum” meaning “Miraculous
decision”.
The term “Trial by Ordeal” refers to the ancient method of trial in which the accused was
exposed to physical danger which was supposed to be harmless if he was innocent. According to
historians, Trial by Combat was the earliest method of determining truthfulness and deception of a
person or persons suspected of the commission of an offense. It is the resolving of an issue through
strength of arms.
The knight representing the truth would be victorious due to “Divine Intervention” that is, that
a just God would not allow injustice to prevail.
The next development in the search for truth was the so-called, “Trial by Ordeal” (Keeler
1938). It was assumed once again that God would intervene on behalf of the innocent, that is, God
would not allow any innocent individual to be harmed.
EARLY METHODS OF DETECTING LIES
1. Red Hot Iron Ordeal
2. Ordeal by the Balance
3. Boiling Water Ordeal
4. Ordeal by Rice Chewing
5. Ordeal of the Red Water
6. Combination of Drinks and Food Ordeal
7. Trial by Combat
8. Trial by torture
9. Drinking Ordeal
10. Trial of the Eucharist
ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE-OLONGAPO, INC
CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT
11. Ordeal by Heat and Fire
12. Ordeal of Boiling Oil or Water
13. Ordeal of Red-Hot Needle
14. Ordeal of the Tiger
15. Test of the Cross Ordeal
16. Donkey’s Tail Ordeal
COUNTRIES THAT PRACTICE ORDEAL
1. 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.
2. Borneo - The accuser and accused were presented by shellfish placed on a plate. And
irritating fluid was then poured on the shellfish and the litigant whose shellfish moved first
was adjudge the winner.
3. 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.
4. 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. If not, the accused is
guilty.
5. Europe and Early United States (17th Century) – Trial by water was commonly used on those
accused of witchcraft. The accuse 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.
ACTIVITY #1
1. Define all the early methods of Detecting Lies.
2. Search for the 2 other methods of Ordeal used in Nigeria.
3. What is Dei Indicum?
4. Who developed “Trial by Ordeal”
5. What are the 3 methods in detection of deception? Explain.
THE FORERUNNERS OF SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF DETECTING DECTION
1. Hypnotism
This method was introduced by an Austrian Physician Franz (Friedrich) Anton Mesmer 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.
2. 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 June (1875-
1961) – a Swiss psychologist and psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology.
ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE-OLONGAPO, INC
CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT
3. The Truth Serum Method
This method was introduced by Dr. Edward Mandel House (1858-1938), a U.S Physicist and
diplomat and a confidential adviser to former U.S President Woodrow Wilson. The term
“truth serum” is a misnomer.
Of all the deception detection methods, the “Truth Serum: test is considered most favorable
and effective if all the following proper conditions to the conduct of the test will be observed:
The test must be performed by skilled experimenter, operator, technician, or
physician
The subject expresses his consent to undergo the test
The dosage of drugs 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
4. Nacro-Analysis or Narco-Synthesis
This method of detecting deception was practically the same as that of administration of truth
serum. The only difference s the drug used. The drug Sodium Amytal or Sodium Pentothal is
administered to the subject.
5. Intoxication
This was 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.
THE METHODS OF DETECTIN GDECEPTION 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 questions are used to gain the so called “Three Eyes” (3
I’s) of investigative which refers to the following:
1. Information gathering – Through record check, surveillance, and intelligence check.
2. Investigation – Through interrogation and /or interview to obtain admission or confession.
3. Instrumentation – Through criminalistic 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 decetography.
ACTIVITY #2
1. Who are Austrian Physician Franz (Friedrich) Anton Mesmer? Write a brief history.
2. What are the proper conditions that needs to be observed before conducting Truth
Serum Test?
3. What are the police methods in the legal investigative process?
4. What is 3 I’s stands for and what are these?
ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE-OLONGAPO, INC
CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT
THE SCIENTIFICALLY ACCEPTED METHOD OF DETECTING DECEPTION
During the 19th century, Dr. Hans Gross, an Austrian – known as the “Father of
Criminalistics” defined search for truth as the basis and goal of all criminal investigations. He
asserted that “ a large part of the criminalist’s work is nothing more than a battle against lies. He
must discover the truth and must fight the opposite. He meets the opposite at every step”
Throughout the centuries, man continued to experiment with more scientific methods is
determining truth and deception with the following scientists who have contributed much in the
development of the scientific instrument know as the “Polygraph” thus, the polygraph technique was
used as the scientific means of detecting deception.
THE PSYCHOLOGICAL STRESS EVALUATOR (PSE)
Aside from polygraph instrument one of the modern gadgets in lie detection is the PSE or
Psychological Stress Evaluator. The instrument detects lying by measuring the level of stress
experienced by the subject though his recorded voice. The interview and test are recorded by the
computer or cellphone.
Under this method, the following procedures are followed:
The examiner meets the requesting party to determine the specific purpose of the
examination and to begin formulation of relevant questions.
A pre-test interview is conducted with the subject to help him or her feel at ease with
the examiner, to provide an opportunity to specify matters, to eliminate outside
issues, and to review questions that will be asked.
An oral test of about 12 to 15 “yes” or “no” questions is given which is recorded on a
tape recorder. The questions are a mixture of relevant an irrelevant question.
Immediately following the test or are a late time, the tape is processed through the
Psychological Stress Evaluator for analysis of answer.
If stress is indicated, the subject is given authority to provide additional clarification.
A re-test is given to verify correction and clarification.
TIMELINE OF THE MODERN POLYGRAPH
1851 - JACQUES D’ ARSONVAL – A French scientist who declared that electricity is generated by
the body.
1888 - CHARLES SAMSON FERE – A French scientist who discovered that electrodermal
response is caused by an increase in the action of the heart and vital energy converted with human
emotions.
1895 - ANGELO MOSSO – Studied fear and its influence on the heart.
1895 – CESARE LOMBROSO – employed the first scientific instrument to detect deception.
1897 – GEORGE STICKER - first person to suggest the use of the galvanograph for detecting
deception.
ST. JOSEPH COLLEGE-OLONGAPO, INC
CRIMINOLOGY DEPARTMENT
1906 – SIR JAMES MACKENZLE - a famous English Heart Specialist who wrote an article
entitled “ The Ink Polygraph”
1907 - OTTO VERAGUTH – was the first to use the term : PSYCHOGALVANIC REFLEX” – an
idea that the electrical phenomenon was due to the activity of the sweat glands
1908 - HUGO MUSTERBURG – proposed and advocated that lie test based on lie detector should
be admissible as evidence in court.
1914 - VITTORIO BENUSSI – successfully detected deception with a pneumography, an instrument
that graphically measures an examinee’s inhalation and demonstrated that changes in breathing
patterns accompany deception.
1915 - WILLIAM MARSTON – dealt with the sphygmomanometer which was used to obtain
periodic discontinuous blood pressure readings during the course of an examination.
1918 - HAROLD BURTT – determined that respiratory changes were indicative of deception. He
found out that changes in systolic blood pressure were of greater value in determining deception than
changes in respiration.
19121 - JOHN LARSON - developed the “Larson Polygraph” an instrument capable of
continuously recording blood pressure, pulse, and respiration. It was made on a poly graphic
apparatus in a portable form and became the first assemblage of apparatus used by his co-workers in
the Berkeley Police Department.
1925 - LEORNARDE KEELER – developed a compact portal instrument using modification of the
Erlanger pressure reducer that permits the blood pressure changes to be recorded over a greater range.
1930 - CAPT. CLARENCE D. LEE - designed the Lee Psychograph consists essentially of four
units
1932 - CHESTER W. DARROW – made a third modification to the Larson Cardio-Pneumo
Psychograph, by adding a galvanometer. The new instrument included a psycho-galvanometric
record, electrodes on the palm and back of the hand, as well as a continuous blood pressure record,
and a pneumographic record.
1945 - JOHN E. REID – devised an instrument for recording muscular activity. He invented his own
Reid Polygraph which was capable of recording simultaneously the blood pressure and pulse rate,
respiration tracings and rendered much more accurate readings.
1947 - CLEVE BACKSTER – developed the Control Question Technique which introduces a lie in
the polygraph chart to establish a yard stick so that one would know what the reaction really means.
1951 - PAUL WILHEM & DONALD BURNS – were known as Lie Detector Specialist in
Michigan City, Indiana, USA, who invented the Electronic Psychometric using Electrodermal
Response as a basis for lie detection.
ACTIVITY # 4
1. Who is Dr. Hans Gross? Write a brief history.
2. What is PSE? What are the procedures?
3. Who is Cesare Lombroso? What is the first scientific instrument he utilized?
4. Search some more facts about John Larson.
5. Search some more facts about Leonarde Keeler .
