lie detector
Interrogation room gadget
A lie detector is a device that monitors physiological responses—heart rate, blood pressure, breathing, skin conductivity—while a person answers questions, on the theory that lying produces measurable stress.
The polygraph is the standard type.
Scientific consensus holds that lie detectors are unreliable, yet they persist in criminal investigations and employment screening: He was asked to take a lie detector test.
Body's reaction to threat
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- fearEmotional response to threat
- guiltMoral self-reproach
- deceptionIntentional misleading of others
emotional arousal · cognitive load · nervous system · behavioral cues · microexpressions · truthfulness · credibility · countermeasures
Seeking answers through inquiry
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- investigationFormal examination of facts
- interviewFormal questioning session
evidence · testimony · admission · probe · cross-examination · witness · alibi · law enforcement
Electrical contact points
- examinerOne who evaluates officially
- sensorsDevices that detect input
- chartsVisual data displays
- readingsDisplayed measurements or interpretations
baselines · respiration · cardiovascular · autonomic · physiological · biometrics · instrumentation · blood pressure cuff
Bogus methodology posing as factual
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- validityQuality of being sound
- false positivesIncorrect affirmative test results
false negatives · junk science · legal challenge · constitutional rights · privacy invasion · civil liberties · coercion · voluntariness
Fiction featuring secret agents
- crime dramaFiction about lawbreaking
- reality TVFilmed unscripted programming
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
- thrillerSuspense-driven narrative genre
Maury Povich · Jerry Springer · whodunit · game show · talk show · true crime · courtroom drama · noir
stress response
Body's reaction to threat
deception · emotional arousal · cognitive load · nervous system · behavioral cues · microexpressions · truthfulness · credibility · countermeasures · fight-or-flight
questioning
Seeking answers through inquiry
- suspectBelieve to be likely
- confessionAdmission of wrongdoing
- investigationFormal examination of facts
interview · evidence · testimony · admission · probe · cross-examination · witness · alibi · law enforcement · sworn statement
electrodes
Electrical contact points
readings · baselines · respiration · cardiovascular · autonomic · physiological · biometrics · instrumentation · blood pressure cuff · galvanometer
pseudoscience
Bogus methodology posing as factual
- admissibilityQuality of being permitted
- reliabilityConsistent, predictable performance
- validityQuality of being sound
false positives · false negatives · junk science · legal challenge · constitutional rights · privacy invasion · civil liberties · coercion · voluntariness · expert testimony
spy thriller
Fiction featuring secret agents
- crime dramaFiction about lawbreaking
- reality TVFilmed unscripted programming
- HollywoodAmerican film industry center
Maury Povich · Jerry Springer · thriller · whodunit · game show · talk show · true crime · courtroom drama · noir
- lie detectionpolygraph, polygraph test, polygraph tests, truth serum, electrodes
- truth revealerstruth teller, straight shooter, straight talker, eyewitness, informant
- crime investigationwhodunit, investigation, detectives, investigator, smoking gun
- detectorsmotion sensor, heat sensor, infrared sensor, proximity sensor, Geiger counter
- interrogationquestioning, interrogator, suspect, interview room, Miranda rights
- interrogation roomstwo-way mirror, metal chair, metal chairs, recording device, polygraph
lie detectorlying
Stating known falsehoods
false testimony · perjury · cover-up · poker face · alibi
liar, detective, lies, detect, lied, detection, detector, lie detection