Aren't polygraphs a dumb myth? Like chiropractors? from ai:"While often called "lie detectors," polygraphs don't directly detect lies. They measure physiological responses like heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity, based on the idea that lying causes stress and anxiety, leading to changes in these responses.
However, the scientific consensus is that polygraphs are not a reliable or accurate way to detect deception. Here's why:
* **No unique physiological indicator of lying exists.** Anxiety, nervousness, fear, or even medical conditions can trigger similar physiological responses in innocent people.
* **High error rates:** Studies have shown significant error rates, with many false positives (innocent people flagged as deceptive) and false negatives (guilty people passing the test). Some research suggests accuracy is only slightly better than chance.
* **Countermeasures:** Individuals can learn and use techniques to manipulate their physiological responses and potentially "beat" the test.
* **Subjectivity:** Interpretation of polygraph results relies heavily on the examiner's judgment, introducing potential bias and inconsistency.
Most psychologists and scientific bodies agree there's little scientific basis for the expectation of high accuracy from polygraph tests. Courts often exclude polygraph evidence due to its unreliability.
So, while the idea of a lie detector is appealing, the scientific evidence suggests that polygraphs are indeed unreliable and more of a myth than a dependable truth-seeking tool."
Gerrymandering for the win (and our loss). ---- you binary political parties.