Forensics Psychology Essays - Pseudoscience, Polygraph, Polygraphy

Forensics Psychology Polygraph The validity of a polygraph test's have always been controversial due to many uncounted factors involved with the test. I believe that this test should be used in the court because it is helpful but, this test should not be the only factor used to determined if one is innocent or guilty. The polygraph measures one's blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity all these factors can be shaped. When one lies one tends to get nervous, anxious, scared sweaty and their heart races. So the test can show all of those and how they react to certain questions.This test might not be effective on some people due to their own qualities. Some people have learned to not get anxious or remain calm when telling a lie so the test might not work on them. Research shows that some people can even convince themselves a lie is true to the point when they take the test it comes up as true also. Some people are also super nervous to begin with and get nervous from the very start. Feeling li ke even telling the truth the can be nervous and uneased. This is where the controversy begins and it's understandable as to why this test should not be in court rooms. The psychological portion of this is where the polygraph is not connected to one's brain hence not knowing if one is truly lying. The polygraph is not detecting ones lies but detecting one's physiological responses. The military even has banned the polygraph test due to many false accusations. Determining whether one is guilty or not cannot be based upon the polygraph test. There have been several countermeasures on how to pass the polygraph test. Aldrich Ames committed espionage against the U.S. for the soviet union. He explains how he passed the lie detector test "Get a good night's sleep, and rest, and go into the test rested and relaxed. Be nice to the polygraph examiner, develop a rapport, and be cooperative and try to maintain your calm There's no special magic....Confidence is what does it. Confidence and a fr iendly relationship with the examiner...rapport, where you smile and you make him think that you like him". He passed the test, this shows how simple it was for him to pass the test. This test can be faked very simply with practice and training. In court there is a lot of preparation on what to say and how to say things in front of the judge. So there may also be training in how to pass the polygraph exam. So the validity of this test is not always accurate and cannot be the determination if one is innocent or guilty.