One portion of an investigation that I have always been intrigued by is the accuracy of lie detector tests. I have never had to take one of these tests (knock on wood..) however I have a hunch that with the right breathing (relaxation technique) pattern and mental state, I could be one of those who "slips" through the cracks of the legal system. Not that I want to be in this category but I'm saying - by studying psychology over the years a person can prepare for such a situation - guilty or not. It may seem like these tests are accurate via all of the television shows that include someone failing a lie detector test miserably and being "caught" but there are many who have been able to "act" innocent and get away without raising too many red flags.
Surfing news sites I found this interesting article in which FBI Investigator, Mark Rozzi, shares his opinion and thoughts on the lie detector test. He noted that the lie detector test is in fact a tool that investigators use - not how a crime is solved. Investigators and lie detector tests get a bad rep through TV (bad or good in regards to how the information is used in solving the crime), because there are many other aspects that are (or should be) taken into consideration. Rozzi states that the tests are typically 95% accurate - which is a good number to have on your side if you are Johnny Law. Emotions play a large role in determining the accuracy of a test. Sure someone could get all worked up and fail the test, however, they could be 100% innocent and this part is problematic.
Insight from FBI Investigator Mark Rozzi
I find this all very interesting and I have always been curious to take a lie detection test. Like yourself, I too feel that I could sort of slip through the cracks on a lie detection test. One of the things I find interesting about lies in general is that it is capable for someone to believe there own lies and even more interestingly there are many different ideas of truth. From a philosphy standpoint the "truth" and the TRUTH are two different things. Not to over-nerd myself but I think back to Obi-Wan's Speech to Luke in Return of the Jedi. Truth is our perception of reality not something that can be measured. If someone asks me if I know a certain person, its reasonable to assume that my definition of "knowing" someone could be different from yours. Your perception of reality changes what you believe to be true or false.
Back to the actual test itself... I have a somewhat below average heart rate (around 56 which isnt abnormal by anymeans but lower then the average 62 that most people have). If I were to go into the test and do things to raise my heart rate, (take faster shorter breaths, psyche myself out, etc) It might through off the test results. Maybe when I'm a lawyer someday I'll have access to a polygraph machine...
I have never had to be hooked up to a lie detector, but I agree with you. They seem like they can easily be tricked. If you can train yourself to breathe right and keep your heart steady you could easily beat a lie detector test whether you are guilty or innocent. Your articles were very interesting. Hearing the truth about lie detectors makes me question why they are still used. I am curious why there has not been an invention to better measure whether a person is lying or telling the truth. A lie detector could easily be replaced by a properly trained person. Telling a lie is all about reading the signs and if you have the proper training you can read signs without hooking someone up to a machine.
I enjoyed reading the "how to" about beating a lie detector. This shows that you can pretty much find anything on the internet. It would be very simple to read through these things right before taking the test and then getting away with lying. I am glad that lie detectors are only used as a tool in an investigation. I do not think that a lot of weight should be put on the results of lie detectors.
I do not believe in polygraphs because I believe they can be too easily beaten. Polygraphs measure arousal- anger, sexual arousal, anxiety, fear, etc. Yet, they cannot differentiate which emotion the person taking the test is feeling. Also, all it takes is one anti-anxiety pill, such as Prozac or Xanax, and you've got the polygraph beat. These drugs take the edge off of our emotions and allow us to stabilize our moods, thus allow us to lie more effectively. I am a big fan of Dr. Paul Ekman, a pioneer in micro-expressions. He says that our faces hold all the answers, we may be able to mask our true emotion or hold it back, but a bit will slip through and it will happen in less than 1/25 of a second, but one can be trained to see these microexpressions, thus allowing us to catch the true emotion, one that the person did not even know they portrayed. Yet, once again micro expressions are not foolproof, if the Liar does not know he is lying, that he or she truly believes the lie, the microexpression will not slip through, and neither will the polygraph show that it is a lie. Nothing is foolproof, everything can be beaten. All you need is to be able to convince yourselves that your lie is true.
http://www.paulekman.com/
http://www.netflix.com/WiMovie/The-Human-Face/60020942?strackid=7a85678e3bae905f_0_srl&strkid=815935650_0_0&trkid=438381
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXm6YbXxSYk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E3PAW7zjgPw&feature=fvw