From: http://antipolygraph.org/pubs.shtml
The Lie Behind the Lie Detector
by George W. Maschke and Gino J. Scalabrini
2nd digital edition Published by AntiPolygraph.org © 2000, 2002 by George W. Maschke and Gino J. Scalabrini. All rights reserved. This digital edition is free for non-commercial distribution and use, provided that it is not altered. Typeset by George W. Maschke.
Acknowledgments
We are grateful to all those who graciously read and commented on drafts of the first edition of this book. Professor John J. Furedy of the University of Toronto provided much welcomed criticism of the chapter on the validity of polygraphy. Professors William G. Iacono and David T. Lykken of the University of Minnesota provided important comments on our chapter on polygraph countermeasures. We thank former FBI Special Agent Mark E. Mallah for his useful insights throughout the writing of this book, and we are indebted to Bill Roche for his helpful suggestions. We are especially grateful to retired FBI Supervisory Special Agent Dr. Drew C. Richardson for his suggestions regarding the second edition of this book. We are also grateful to all those reviewers who have requested to remain anonymous. This is a better book for their commentary and criticism.
We, the authors, remain responsible for the contents of this book and any errors herein.
Foreword
We wrote this short book to call public attention to the dangers of polygraphy and to protect the innocent from polygraph abuse. Because of our government's reliance on this pseudoscientific procedure, thousands of truthful persons have been falsely accused of deception and suffered serious adverse consequences. On the other hand, deceptive persons can easily defeat polygraph "tests" through countermeasures, as did convicted spy Aldrich H. Ames.
We hope that this book will help to stimulate informed public debate about polygraph policy and hasten the day when our government comes to its senses and ends its reliance on this latter-day trial by ordeal. Our reliance on unreliable polygraphy is undermining--not strengthening--our national security. Polygraphy must be abolished.
We are distributing this book in electronic format free of charge in order to reach the broadest audience possible. We didn't write this book to make money. We only ask that you tell others about this book if you find it informative and useful.
This book is formatted for double-sided printing, and we encourage you to print out as many copies as you like to share with your family, friends, and colleagues.
We view this book as a work in progress and plan to release updated editions as new information warrants. Check AntiPolygraph.org for the latest edition.
Contact us to learn how you can help to put an end to polygraphy. We welcome your comments by e-mail at the addresses below. If you wish to protect the privacy of your correspondence, e-mail us for our PGP public keys.
George W. Maschke mailto:maschke@antipolygraph.org Gino J. Scalabrini mailto:scalabrini@antipolygraph.org
Introduction
To the rulers of the state then, if to any, it belongs of right to use falsehood to deceive either enemies or their own citizens for the good of the state: and no one else may meddle with this privilege. --Plato
Truth will out! --Old English saying
In this book, you will learn the little-known truth about polygraphy. You will learn:
- that polygraphy is not science (p. 15 ff.);
- that polygraphy, like phrenology and graphology, is without scientific validity (p. 15 ff.);
- that our Government's reliance on unreliable polygraphy serves to protect spies, undermining--not enhancing--our national security (p. 26 ff.);
- that polygraph "tests" are actually interrogations (pp. 16, 110 ff.);
- that polygraphy depends on your polygrapher lying to and deceiving you (p. 70 ff.);
- the simplistic method by which your polygrapher decides whether you are truthful or deceptive (pp. 15, 82);
- that polygraphy is biased against the truthful (p. 83);
- that polygraph "testing" can be (and has been) easily defeated through countermeasures (p. 19);
- how to ensure that you pass your polygraph interrogation (p. 104 ff);
- how to recognize interrogation tactics and not be fooled by them (p. 96 and p. 111 ff.);
- what to do if you have been falsely accused (p. 140ff.);
- how you can help put an end to polygraph abuse (p. 147 ff.);
- where to learn more about polygraphy (p. 159 ff.). 13
(If you face an upcoming polygraph "test" and need to learn what to expect as quickly as possible, you may wish to proceed directly to Chapters 3 and 4 [p. 70 ff.] and come back to Chapters 1, 2 and 5 later.)
Every year, thousands of law-abiding Americans submit to polygraphic interrogation. And every year, hundreds--if not thousands--are falsely accused based on polygraph chart readings and are routinely denied due process.
Those subjected to polygraphic interrogation include employees of, and applicants for employment with:
- federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, DEA, and U.S. Secret Service (applicants for state and local law enforcement agencies probably comprise the largest population subjected to pre-employment polygraph screening);
- fire departments (many firefighters and paramedics are subjected to polygraph screening);
- national intelligence agencies, including CIA, NSA, DIA, and NRO;
- the U.S. Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps;
- the U.S. Department of Energy.
While the 1988 Employee Polygraph Protection Act banned the use of polygraphy by most of the private sector, our Government exempted itself. Some industries, such as armored car companies, also received exemptions.
We care deeply about our country and our communities. In writing this book, our purpose is to help protect the innocent from polygraph abuse and to help strengthen our collective security by exposing waste, fraud, and abuse.
We believe that our Government should not, through the polygraph screening process, lie to and deceive its employees and those seeking employment. We believe that Government should not determine the trustworthiness of its employees based on a pseudoscientific procedure that fundamentally depends on trickery, is biased against the truthful, and yet may be easily defeated by deceptive persons who employ countermeasures.
States should adopt the Minnesota polygraph statute (Appendix D), which prohibits all polygraph "testing" of employees or prospective employees, as a model. And Congress must broaden the 1988 Employee Polygraph Protection Act to provide protection for all Americans.
Discover now the lie behind the lie detector.
Chapter One - On the Validity of Polygraphy
When we lie, our blood pressure goes up, our heart beats faster, we breathe more quickly (and our breathing slows once the lie has been told), and changes take place in our skin moisture. A polygraph charts these reactions with pens on a moving strip of paper.... The result is jagged lines that don't convey a lot to you. But...an examiner can tell from those mechanical scribbles whether or not you've spoken the truth. --polygrapher Chris Gugas, The Silent Witness, 1979
Whoever undertakes to set himself up as judge in the field of truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by the laughter of the Gods. -- AlbertEinstein
Polygraphy is not science. Like its discredited sister disciplines, phrenology and graphology, it is codified conjecture masquerading as science. Polygraph "testing" is an unstandardizable procedure that is fundamentally dependent on trickery.1
More coming as I have inclination and time ... in the mean time the PDF is attached. 