Holistic Survival Show

Today's Flash Back Friday comes from Episode 79, from February 2012. The lie detector is not a test for truth and the polygraphists know this. Join Jason Hartman as he interviews expert and co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org, George Maschke on the fallacy of lie detectors. George states that the practice of using a polygraph test has not been scientifically proven to be accurate and that, for the most part, it gets people to divulge information based on “control” questions, and also “buffer” questions that are not even measured. The polygraph measures physiological responses, such as breathing, blood pressure, heart and perspiration rates, which are compared to the reactions of lie-control questions. George explains how it is often used to trick people into handing over information, how the test is not 98% accurate, but closer to only 50% accurate, and how it is sometimes used as a plea bargain in court cases to “prove” innocence or guilt. George shares many instances where the guilty were able to manipulate the