4 ms·
I think the polygraph is really just an additional tool to aid the main goal, which is to interrogate the participant. To this end the polygraph is a useful too
by bebop 7y ago
I think the polygraph is really just an additional tool to aid the main goal, which is to interrogate the participant. To this end the polygraph is a useful tool as it provides added discomfort, which can help the interrogator get answers from the participant.
- tyingq 7y agoDepends, I guess, on what they do with it. Indicators of stress could be a "good thing" in a lot of cases. It might show maturity and broad thinking versus deception. I'm a bit biased in thinking they probably bias towards loyalty and party line vs the real story. In any case, it probably excludes a lot of real talent that won't put up with the bullshit. They are inadvertently creating a very narrow culture that hurts their effectiveness.
- lonelappde 7y agoIt's just a technique to scare you into providing evidence. And in the CIA it's a test of your resilience to interrogation.
- mercer 7y agowhile I'm sure plenty of people in law enforcement haven't 'gotten the memo' that polygraphs don't actually work, I suspect in many cases they do them anyways exactly for the reason you describe. Reminds me of one of my favorite scenes from The Wire, Bunk using his bag of tricks to get someone to talk. Whole thing is hilarious, but the lie detector stuff starts here: https://youtu.be/rN7pkFNEg5c?t=92 https://youtu.be/rN7pkFNEg5c?t=92