What is a Polygraph?
Polygraph is commonly referred to as “A Lie Detector. However, the polygraph is not a lie detector in the sense of the word.
If one looks at the definition of a lie it is the spoken word. Polygraph looks at the body’s physiological response to the questions asked and then makes a chart or graph of the response. The polygraph also looks at several physiological responses simultaneously.
The origin of the work polygraph is from the ancient Greeks and actually is a composite of two words Poly- meaning “many” and graph – meaning “writings”
The basic concept of polygraphs is the fear of detection of deception. We have to understand a bit about philology the autonomous nervous system is what is responsible for causing changes to occur within our bodies when we feel threatened and identify danger. We have all experienced these reactions in our own lives from time to time.
One needs to understand why a person lies. Possibly the main reason is that a person who has committed a crime or an act of dishonesty does not want to face the consequences of their actions. It is human nature to self-protect oneself to avoid consequences. This often manifests itself as a lie. Telling a lie is thus the way one protects one’s self from serious unwanted consequences.
The reaction that is shown on the polygraph is the autonomous nervous system responding this causes the body to react, these reactions are what is measured by the polygraph interments sensors.
A person who has committed a crime or dishonest act when questioned about this activity while connected to the polygraph incident will lie to protect themselves from the consequences. The fact that they are lying about the autonomous nervous system causes a change to take place this is referred to as a deceptive response. Should the same question be asked of an innocent person there do not have anything to protect them against so there would be no deceptive resonance?
Polygraph services
- Polygraph Specific issue testing [some examples]
- Theft
- Fraud
- Arson
- Assault
- Corruption
- Drugs
- Sexual crimes
- Child Abuse
- Domestic abuse
- Racial abuse
Pre Employment screening
- Previous convictions
- Undeclared previous employment dismissal
- Previous undetermined crimes
- Syndicated activities
- Crimes committed in the workplace
- Drug or narcotic usage
- Excessive alcohol usage
Periodic or routine screening
- Unidentified criminal activates
- Syndicated activities in the workplace
- Drug or alcohol abuse within the workplace
Investigation services
- Criminal investigations e.g. theft, assault,
- Wildlife investigation and crime scene attendance
- Fraud investigations
- Surveillance –physical and electronic
- Covert surveillance
- Camera monitoring – overt and covert
- Fingerprint screening
- Personal profiling [background checks] – security, credit checks, driver’s license & education verification, employment confirmation.
- Fingerprint investigation
- Handwriting analysis
- Ballistics investigation and analysis
- Statement analysis [SCAN]
- Industrial espionage
- Sabotage
- Sexually related offences
- Cyber fraud /crimes
- Insurance investigations
- False insurance claims
- Corporate investigations
- Corporate kidnapping
- Crises investigations
- Whistleblowers programs