PFOR 06

LIE DETECTION
TECHNIQUES
 POLYGRAPHY

Is scientific methods of
detecting deception done
with the aid of a polygraph
machine
❖ POLYGRAPH
(derived from the Greek words POLY) = many or several

❖GRAPH (grapos)
(writing chart) is a scientific instrument capable of recording simultaneously
changes in blood pressure, pulse rate, respiration and skin resistance as
indicative of emotional disturbance especially of a lying subject when being
questioned.

❖ THOMAS JEFFERSON (first man to use the word “polygraph”) it

refers or described his invention.
Polygraph machine is a sensitive machine which is likened or compared to an
X-ray, which requires proper interpretation for validation and its accuracy is
said to be directly proportional to the knowledge, skills, education, desire,
competency and integrity of the operator.

Hence, the attitude of “let’s put them on the lie box” should be firmly
discouraged.
 Types of Liars
1. Panic Liar – A person who lies in order to avoid the consequences of
confession. He or she is afraid of embarrassment to loved ones and is a serious
to his or her ego.
2. Occupational Liar – is someone who lied for years. This person is a practical
liar and lies when it has a higher payoff than telling the truth.
3. Tournament Liar – A person who loves to lie and is excited by the challenge
or not being detected. He lies because it is the only weapon remaining with
which to fight, he wants people to believe that the law is punishing an innocent
person
4. Ethnological liar – A person who was trained not to be squealer. This person
loves to be interrogated and has taken a creed either personal or with others,
that he or she will never reveal the truth, creed of underworld gangs.

5. Psychopathic liar- This type of liar has no conscience. He shows no regret for
his dishonest actions and no manifestation of guilt this is the most difficult type
of liar because he is a good actor he can fool most investigators.
6. Pathological Liar – A person who cannot distinguish what is right from
wrong. These are person who are mentally sick.

7. Black Liar – A person who always pretends and a hypocrite.

 TYPES OF LIE
1. Benign or White Lie – used to maintain harmony of friendship, harmony of
the home or office.
2. Black Lie – used to destroy the relationship between and among individuals.
3. Red Lie – This lie is common to communist countries. This is used to
destroy other ideologies by means of propaganda.
4. Malicious Lie – A chronic lie purely used to mislead justice, a pure
dishonesty to obstruct justice.
 Other Types of Lie
1. Direct Denial – this is a direct denial of the act in question that
creates an emotional sense of disturbance.
Example : “I did not do it” the response permits person to evade inner
conflict while seeming to answer the question.

2. Lie of Omission – This a type of lie that people usually used because it
simple to tell. Individuals who will make use of this type of lie will tell the
truth while omitting details that could create possible troubles.
3. Lie of Fabrication – This is the most difficult type of lie that a subject could
use in an interview.

4. Lie of Minimization- when a subject wanted to stay close to the truth

however, he covers the truth his or her own benefit.

Example : Mr. X is complaining because Mr. B boxed him and as a result the
nose of Mr. X is broken. If Mr. B uses the of minimization, he will state that he
only slapped Mr. X.
5. Lie of Exaggeration – this is a lie often used to exaggerate thing for the
hope of obtaining some advantage. This is also often found to resume
where applicants exaggerates his or her experiences, knowledge, skills,
salary and length of service.

6. Jocular Lying (Jocose Lie) – A deceit for the purpose of Humor.

7. Emergency Lie – A strategic Lie told when the truth may not be told.
(mas maganda wag mo nang sabihin ang totoo)
 There are three fundamental bases on the
polygraph test and they are:

❖MECHANICAL LEG BASIC

PREMISE (machine itself)
- polygraph is capable of
making graphic record
containing reliable information
regarding physiological
responses of the subject.
❖ PHYSIOLOGICAL LEG BASIC
PREMISE
- that among the physiological
responses (heartbeat, breathing,
skin resistance)
- that may be recorded are those
that automatically occur only
following the stimulation of
specific nervous component
system.
❖ PSYCHOLOGICAL LEG BASIC
PREMISE

- States that specific nervous system

component whose stimulation can thus
be diagnosed are so stimulated by the
involuntary and emotional processes of
the individual who is continuously
attempting concealment of deception
especially if that individual has
something at stake and the prevailing
circumstances lead him to believe that
exposure to deception is quite possible
although undesirable.
 DEFINITION OF TERMS
1. ADMISSION - is a statement of facts, partial acknowledgement of guilt
and usually given with some justification or exemplification in admitting. And
its fall under short statement.

2. CONFESSION - direct acknowledgement of guilt or a statement of guilt.

• JUDICIAL CONFESSION – made inside the court or with the presence of
the judge
• EXTRA – JUDICIAL CONFESSION – made outside of the court. (during law
enforcement stage)
3. DECEPTION (panloloko) = is the act of deceiving or misleading usually
accompanied by lying.

4. DIASTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE = refers to the downward blood pressure

representing the low pressure to the closing of the valves and heart relaxed.

5. DICROTIC NOTCH = refers to the short horizontal notch in a cardio-

tracing located at the middle of the diastolic stem.
6. ELECTRODERMAL RESPONSE - it refers to human body phenomenon in
which the skin changes resistance electrically upon the application of certain
external stimuli.

Also referred to a Psycho galvanic skin reflex or galvanic skin response. (5

milimicron)

7. EMOTION - it refers to an emotional response to specific danger that appears

to be beyond a person’s defensive power.
8. ENVIRONMENT - is the sum total of the dissimulation that a person
acquired from the time he was conceived and his exposure to his
surroundings.

9. HEREDITY - is the transmission of physical and mental traits of the parents

to their offspring through the genes.

10. INTERVIEW (witness) - simple questioning of one who is willing and

cooperative.
11. INTERROGATION (suspect and hostile witness)- forceful questioning
of a person who is reluctant to divulge information.

12. LYING - is the act of uttering or conveying falsehood or creating a

false or misleading impression with the intention of affecting wrongfully.

13. NORMAL RESPONSE - refers to any activity or inhibition of a previous

activity of an organism or part of the organism resulting from stimulation.
14. SPECIFIC RESPONSE - refers to the response given by the subject
which considered a deviation from the normal tracing or norms of the
subject.

15. STIMULUS - refers to any force or motion coming from the environment
and which reach an organism has the tendency to arouse.

16. SYSTOLIC BLOOD PRESSURE - the upward blood pressure as the

apex of the curve caused by the contraction of the heart, valves are open
and blood is rushing into the arteries.
17. FORENSIC PSYCHO-PHYSIOLOGIST – Modern term for Polygraph
Examiner

18. ORDEAL (dei indicum) - refers to the oldest form of crime detection done by
subjecting a subject to an obstacle or trial and sometimes even involving third
degree.
❖ AYUR VIDA

A Hindu book of science and health around 500B.C. Considered as an

earliest known reference to a method of detecting deception.
 TWO OTHER HINDU BOOKS
• DHASMASASTRA OF GAUTAMA (Nature of Lying) – No guilt is
incurred in giving false evidence in the case the life of man depends
thereon.

• VASISTHA OF DHARMASASTRA (Justifying Lying) – Men may speak

on untruth when lives are in danger or the loss of their property is
imminent.
 EARLY METHODS OF DETECTING
DECEPTION
TRIAL BY COMBAT - One of the
ancient practices of detecting deception
whereby an accuser will fight against the
accused or will hire a champion to fight
the accused in a duel, whosoever lost
the duel, will be adjudged guilty.
 METHODS OF ORDEAL
1. Red hot Iron Ordeal (Accused
touch his tongue to an extremely hot
metal for nine (9) times.)

2. Boiling Water Ordeal (Practice by

Borotso Native in Bengal India)
3. Balance Ordeal

4. Rice Chewing Ordeal

5. Ordeal by Water

6. The Donkey’s tail ordeal

 Objectives of a Polygraph Examination
• Obtain additional investigation leads to the facts of the case/offenses.
• Locate the fruits or tools of the crime or whereabouts of wanted persons.
• Identify of other persons involved.
• Obtain valuable information form reluctant witnesses.
• Eliminate the innocent suspects.
• Ascertain of a person is telling the truth by verifying statements or
comparing conflicting statements.
 Clues of Deception or Induces of lies
(sign)
• Swearing to God.
• Stammering
• Failure of subject to look straight into examiner eyes
• Rapid movements of adams apple among male.
Hysteria among females or woman.
• Arrogance or indifference to interrogation.
• Biting upper and lower lips after a hot stimulus is propounded
• Changes on the color of the face.
• Complete and total denial of the case under investigation
• Questioning accuracy on the polygraph machine.
• Sarcastic laugh of the subject.
• Force laugh of the subject
• Restlessness of the subject
• Show of the unnecessary movements of legs and ahead.
• Changing seats from chair to chair.
• Frequent excuses to go to the comfort room.
• Asking the examiner for a drink or a smoke.
• Over Perspiration despite of an air-condition room.
• Answering questioning by beating around the hush when questioning and answered
yes or no.
• Asking the examiner to repeat the questions although propounded clearly.
• Asking counter remark who me.
• Making reference to prominent people and mutual friends.
• Shifting blame to someone else.
• Pointing the guilt to other
• Refusal to submit to polygraph examination, consenting to polygraph examination
but refuse to sign the consent (written).
 SCIENTIFIC METHODS OF DETECTING
DECEPTION
❖ POLYGRAPHY TEST
(90%)
• Aid of investigation and not a
substitute or replacement for
investigation.
• Not admissible in court to prove the
guilt of the subject.
• Cannot be conducted if insufficient
amount of information were gathered.
• Minors, mentally-ill or retarded are exempted.
• Cannot be conducted to unfit subject.
• Polygraph machine is not a lie detector machine.
• The accuracy of the machine is directly proportion to the credibility of
the examiner.
• Cannot be used for diagnostic purposes.
 Qualities of a Good Examiner
• To make himself understand and not resented by subject, by his very exposure to
him.
• Ability to establish or create a rapport with the subject.
• Much investigative experience as possible.
• Interrogation Experience.
• Must be deeply involved in his work (even beyond the call of duty.
 Legal Aspect of Polygraph (Other
Countries)
❖ U.S vs. FRYE – The first case in lie detection. The Supreme Court in
year 1923 decided it was not admissible in evidence.

❖ U.S vs. SOCKEL – the Court reiterated its non admissibility but if the
parties stipulated then result of the lie detection test will be
admissible.
The United States Court of Appeals, has reverse the 1923 ban on polygraph
evidence and opened the door to the administration of the result of the
polygraph tests.

The decision in U.S vs. Picciononna discards Frye as a rule, and sets procedure
and limits on polygraph test admissibility.
 Legal Aspect of Polygraph (Philippines)
Polygraph evidence was first discussed by the Supreme Court in 1978 in
People vs. Daniel. In this case he was guilty, the accused submitted to the trial
court the result of a polygraph test to show that he was innocent of the crime
of rape.
People vs. Adoviso, Pablo Adoviso was convicted of two counts of murder
by the RTC of Camarines Sur. He was identified by two witnesses as the
perpetrator of the crimes. Among the evidence offered was the testimony of the
polygraph examiner of the NBI who conducted a polygraph test on adoviso. The
polygraph examiner pronounced that Adoviso’s polygraphs revealed that there
were no specific reactions indicative of deception to pertinent questions
relevant to the investigation of the crimes. Despite this findings, the trial court
found adoviso guilty beyond reasonable doubt.

Reference: http://truthverifier.blogspot.com/
 Current State of Polygraph Testing in the
Philippines
Philippine Jurisprudence on Polygraph Examination

• In the Philippine jurisdiction, polygraph obtained during an examination is generally

not admissible as evidence in court even if allowed cannot stand alone.

• However, statements and confessions obtained through the use of polygraph

instrument are admissible provided all other requirements that the subject is
appraise of his applicable rights in the presence of counsel. In this respect no
subject can be compelled to take the test.
• Expert testimony on polygraph maybe admitted as evidence subject to the discretion
of the trial judge.

• Although perfection in test is not a pre-requisites to the admissibility of evidence

obtainable by the used of scientific instrument or techniques, the practice has been
granting judicial recognition only after proponents of the unprecedented evidence
have shown that the instrument or techniques has a reasonable measure of precision
in its indication and that is accepted one in particular profession or field of science
to which belong. (People vs. Capuno, April 04, 2001)
 Reasons Why the Polygraph result
Inadmissible as evidence in court:
• Because it has not been standardized as to instrumentation.
• It has not been standardized as to the test or method of questioning procedure.
• As to the qualification of Polygraph Examiner
❖ USE OF ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES
• The subject is made to drink hard
liquor in such a mount that would
make him lose control or inhibitions.

• Information gathered through this

method is not admissible in court.
❖ NARCO-ANALYSIS TEST OR
ADMINISTRATION OF TRUTH
SERUM
• Use of narcotic or unaesthetic drug.
• Drugs injected hypodermically or
intravenously.
• Dangerous and not admissible.
❖ WORD ASSOCIATION TEST
• Group of words, objects or photographs will
be presented.

• Time pressure. This was first devised by

FRANCIS GALTON in 1870 and later was
modified and improved by others such as
Munsterberg, Oreland, Luria and Jung. In the
Galton’s technique there are two main
criteria for detecting indications of deception
and these are:
(1) Incriminating answer words, and (2)
Delayed answer.
❖ USE OF
HYPNOTISM –
Information gathered through
this method is also not
admissible in court.
 DEVELOPMENT OF THE POLYGRAPH

❖ CARDIOSPHYGMOGRAPH

a. Cesare Lombroso (1895) - Credited to be the first to conceived the idea of

utilizing scientific lie detection

b. Angelo Mosso (1895) - Utilized a scientific cradle and focus on the

importance of fear as a strong influence to deception

(the Mosso’s Cradle, An instrument that can record cardiovascular response to

FEAR)
c. William M. Marston (1915) - He made used of a sphygmomanometer and focus
on the importance of the Systolic Blood pressure. He also devised the
discontinuous technique in questioning.

d. John A. Larson (1921) - Devised the so-called “Bread Lie Detector”, a

scientific instrument capable of simultaneously recording changes in blood
pressure, pulse beat and respiration
❖ GALVANOGRAPH

a. Sticker - Works on the galvanograph component and study the influence of

the sweat glands to skin resistance.

b. Veraguth - Formulated the term Psycho-galvanic skin reflex following the

study of sticker

c. Richard O. Arthur - The person who developed a polygraph machine with

two galvanic skin resistances.
❖ PNEUMOGRAPH

a. Vittorio Bennussi - Focus on the formulation of the Inhalation and Exhalation

ratio.

b. Harold Burtt - Considered respiration as a weak basis in determining

deception and incorporate the systolic blood pressure to respiration
❖ Keymograph (Leonarde Keeler)

Developed the kymograph machine and the Keeler’s Polygraph in the year
1926 as one of the great advancement to the development of the polygraph
machine.
 OTHER PERSONALITIES:
• John E. Reid – Developed the Reid Polygraph with an incorporation of
muscular resistance compare to the Keelers and the Stoelting. Also
developed the SAT and Control Question Test.
• Francis Galton - Formulated the Word Association test.
• Cleve Backster - Formulated the Numerical Scoring on the polygraph chart
and standardizing quantitative polygraph technique.
• Sir James Mackenzie - a heart specialist who published in two British journal
the machine he used in his work and named it “ INK POLYGRAPH”
• Sir James Mackenzie - a heart
specialist who published in two
British journal the machine he
used in his work and named it “
INK POLYGRAPH”
 The Major Components and its Parts

The Polygraph machine is basically composed of three major

components serving as the detecting mechanism and five major sections by
adding kymograph component and pen and inking system to serve as the
recording mechanism.
❖ Cardiosphygmograph

Designed to detect changes in

blood pressure and pulse beat of
the subject
• Blood pressure Cuff – attached to the upper right arm of the subject,
above the brachial artery.
• Sphygmamonometer – used to indicate the amount of air pressure inflated to
the system. Usually about 60 mm of mercury for male subject.
• Resonance Control Unit
• Recording pen unit – five (5) inches length
• Air Pump – designed to supply air to the system
❖ Pneumograph
Designed to detect changes in
respiration of the subject consisting
of the Chest and the Abdominal
Assembly with sub part:
• Rubber Convulated Tube – a 10 inches corrugated rubber attached to
the body of the subject.
• Beaded Chain – used to lock the rubber convoluted tube.
• Recording pen unit – consisting of two 5 inches recording pen
• Resonance Control Unit
• Centering knob
• Sensitivity knob
❖ Galvanograph

to detect changes in skin

resistance of the subject.
• Finger Electrode Assembly consists of:
• Finger electrode plate and retainer bond – attached to the
left index and ring finger of the subject.
• connecting plug – designed to attached the system to the
machine
• Recording pen unit – usually 7 inches
• Amplifier Unit – designed to support the galvanometer in converting electrical
to mechanical current.
❖ Keymograph

serves as the paper feed

mechanism of the polygraph
machine. The one that records the
different tracing by driving the
paper out under a recording pen
unit.
• Chart – (approximately 100 ft.) rolled graph paper composed of twelve
division in one minutes run designed to measure the rate of various body
functioning.
• Cutter bar - used to cut the paper at the end of the test
• Rubber roller – the one responsible for pulling the paper out of the machine.
• Pen table - flat portion where the pen write on the chart.
• Paper rail guide – serves as the security for the unnecessary movement of
the chart paper or to ensure the paper’s forward movement without shaking.
• Synchronous motor - to run the chart paper at the uniform rate speed
regardless of the voltage change.
❖ Pen and inking system

the one that provides for the

permanent record of the test.
 Stages in the Conduct of the Polygraph Test

❖ Initial Interview
Conducted by an investigator handling the case, designed for
the obtaining of pertinent information necessary for the conduct
of the test. This is falling short of the basic process of
investigation. All information gathered by the investigator will be
copied furnished to the examiner.

As a rule no polygraph test cannot be conducted if there is

insufficient amount of data gathered.
 ❖ Pre-test Interview

An interview conducted by the polygraph examiner designed to

prepare or condition the subject for the actual test. It usually last
for about 20 – 30 minutes. There are four basic things being
undertaken in this stage.
• Informing the subject of his Basic Constitutional Rights
• Right to remain silent
• Right to be informed of the nature and the cause of his accusation
• Right to counsel
• Right against self-incrimination
Taking of the subject consent
• Taking of the subject personal data sheet
• Determining the subject physical, mental and psychological suitability
to undergo the test
• the subject should stop from smoking at least 2 hours prior to the
test
• the subject should avoid taking drugs at least 12 hours before the
test
• The subject if female should not be: pregnant, having menstruation
or not wearing tight shirt or girdle.
• the subject should not be hungry
• the subject should not be physically or emotional abuse
• The subject should not be highly nervous. Etc.
❖ Actual Test
• Is the actual conduct of the test administered by a polygraph examiner:
• Condition of the room
• It should be spacious for two
• Well lighted
• Well ventilated
• Sound Proof
• Not Decorated
 Post-test Interview or Interrogation
• Is an interview or an interrogation administered by a polygraph examiner after
the test designed to obtain confession or admission by the subject?
• An interview is conducted when the subject indicates an innocent response
and very cooperative to the examiner. An interrogation is conducted when
the subject shows sign of deception and being uncooperative to open
information.
 Types of Reaction

1. Internal Reaction – reaction of the internal organs which may not be

readily noticeable.

2. External Reaction – reaction of an individual which are observable and

which can either be:
• Facial
• Postural
 General Rules in formulating Test Questions

• Questions must be simple and direct

• They must not involve legal terminologies
• They must be as simple and as short as possible
• Answerable by Yes or No.
• They must not be in a form of accusatorial.
• Their meaning must be clear and they must be phrased in a language that
the subject can easily understand.
• They must never contain inference which presupposes knowledge on the
part of the subject.
• They must refer to one offense only
• They must refer to one element of the offense.
• They must not contain inference to one’s religion, race or belief.
 Types of Questions

• Irrelevant – questions pertaining to the basic background of the subject

and are generally not related to the case in issue but are designed to obtain
or established the individual norms of the subject.
• Answerable by “yes”.
• Designed to absorb the initial response as to the question sequence
commences and to produce little or no emotion change in the subject’s
normal reaction under testing condition.
• Relevant - the primary of key questions asked by the examiner in order to
resolve specific subject matter.

• questions related to the issue which may either be:

• Strong Relevant – directly proving the guilt of the subject

• Questions with intense and specific relation to the crime or
problem being considered.
• Constructed to test for direct involvement only and
specifically to produce emotional response in guilty subject.
 • Weak Relevant – indirectly proving the guilt of the subject and is
further sub-divided into three:

• Knowledge – questions given for the purposes of determining

information known or the subject possess.
• Evidence Connecting – designed to obtain link between the
subject and the crime.
• Sacrifice – questions designed to determine truthfulness of the
subject.

• Control Questions – questions that either relevant or irrelevant designed to

established response from an innocent subject.
 Types of Test

❖ General Question Test

• Consist of series of relevant and irrelevant questions in a planned

order.
The sequence and sample of General Question Test are as follows:

1Q – Irrelevant – is your first name Pedro?

2Q – Irrelevant – Do you know that today is Monday?
3Q – Weak Relevant – Between 8am to 10am of July 1, 2024 did you open the
table’s drawer of Mr. Juan Dela Cruz?
4Q – Irrelevant – Are you a student?
5Q- Strong Relevant – Were you the one who actually stole the missing 100,000
cash money of Mr. Juan Dela Cruz?
6Q – Primary Control – Before attaining the age of 20 have you ever stolen
anything?
7Q – Irrelevant – Do you know how to cook?
8Q – Evidence Connecting – Was the hat recovered under the table og Mr. Juan
Dela Cruz, yours?
9Q – Knowledge Question – Do you know who stole the money of Mr. Juan Dela
Cruz?
10Q – Secondary Control – Have you ever stolen anything from your current
employment?
❖ Peak of Tension test

• Consist of only one relevant and a series of irrelevant questions.

• resemble, in every general way, the card test, for it consist essentially of
the asking of a series of question in which only one has any bearing upon
the matter under investigation.
• Padding questions before the after the relevant questions.
Example:

1Q – Introductory Phrase plus padding question – Did you know whether the
stolen watch of Peter is a timex?
2Q – Padding – Is it a Guess?
3Q – Padding – Is it a Gucci?
4Q – Relevant Question – Is it a Rolex?
5Q – Padding – Is it a Citizen?
6Q – Padding – Is it a Seiko?
7Q – Padding – Is it an Omega?
❖ Card test

• The subject is presented with seven (7) previously numbered cards face
down.
• He will be instructed to take one, look at it and return it with the rest of
the cards.
• The examiner will shuffle the cards and each card will be shown to him,
with the instruction that he will answer “NO” to all cards, even if the one
being shown to him is the one he has seen earlier.
❖ Guilt Complex Test

• Used primarily for overly responsive subjects.

• a totally fictitious incident but a similar nature to the matter being
investigated and make him believe it is real.
• The purpose is to compare the response with those response made
concerning the actual matter under investigation.
• Example; Did you steal the money from the house of Bonifacio?” While it is
true that the money was stolen but it is not from the house of bonifacio
rather the money was stolen from the house of Masaysay.
❖ Silent Answer test

• Subject is instructed not to give any verbal answer; the subject will only
answer in his mind.
❖ Yes test
❖ No test
❖ Guilt complex test

❖ Mixed test
• Consist essentially of an arrangement of the first and third test questioned.
• administered response on earlier test or to compare the degree of reaction
between relevant and control questions
 SIGNS AND SYMBOLS COMMONLT USED IN
POLYGRAPH EXAMINATION
• X/60/1.5 A – first marking of the examiner on the chart
• XX/60/1.5 A – examiner’s mark after the test
• X – start of the test
• XX – end of the test
• 60 – millimeter of mercury shown in sphygmamometer dial
• 1.5 – ohms of skin electrical resistance
• A or M – refers to automatic or manual galvo amplifier used
• // - particular point where each questions begins and end (also called
stimulus mark)
• + (positive sign) – Yes answer to question
• - (negative sign) – No answer to question
• A – adjustment
• T – Subject talked instead of answering with single Yes or No.
• R – subject request for repetition of question
• C – coughing
• N – noise
• S – sigh by the subject
• PJ – paper jam
• SN – subject sniffed
• BI – breathing instruction
• OS – tracing changed caused by outside stimulus
• M – movement
• IM – instruction movement
• L - laugh