Wednesday, October 05, 2005

Lie Detection

Lie detection has and is generating scientific controversy and public controversy. Majority of psychologists and majority of scientists agree that lie detection validity is weak. United States Supreme Court with United States VS. Scheffer in 1998 rejected the use of lie detection because of inherent unreliability.

Development and current lie detection is based on physiological functioning and independent of psychological functioning research. Majority of psychologists and majority of scientists agree that deception requires effort and effort is assessed by monitoring physiological functioning changes. Such monitoring has and is not proven and research on the nature of deceptiveness is limited. Without understanding of the mechanisms by which deception functions and nature of deception, development of lie detection has and is problematic.

The idea of lie detection is comforting. Must remain practical and must remain skeptical about any conclusion from lie detection.

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