MAULANA ABUL KALAM AZAD

UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY,
WEST BENGAL

FACULTY OF FORENSIC SCIENCE

MSC FORENSIC SCIENCE–2020-21

INTERNAL ASSIGNMENT ON
INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC SCIENCE AND
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

TOPIC: POLYGRAPH TEST UNDER

PSYCHOLOGY AND INVESTIGATIVE
TECHNIQUES

Submitted By: Submitted To:

Rakesh Pandey Ms. Ashmita Paul,
1st Semester Faculty of Forensic Science
2020-21

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Any activity big or small is a result of collective

efforts of several individuals and this assignment is
also a sequel of several individuals who have given
their valuable contribution in fulfillment of this
assignment.

At first I would like to express my profound

gratitude towards my faculty of Forensic Science
who has provided me an opportunity to submit this
assignment and was available with the valuable
information during the classes.
I would also like to acknowledge a deep sense of
gratitude to my Dean, Faculty member and friends
for their immense support and guidance.
Last but not the last, my overriding debt continues
to all the people who were directly or indirectly
associated with this assignment.

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 INTRODUCTION

Polygraph is a general term that refers to the use of autonomic physiological

measures to make assessments about a person’s credibility. Polygraph
techniques find wide application in the criminal justice.
There are two major families of polygraph techniques. Knowledge approaches
look for responses that indicate knowledge possessed by a person attempting
deception. Deception (dishonesty) approaches assess credibility by examining a
person’s response to accusatory (harsh) questions that directly address the
issues under investigation.

A polygraph Test is known as a lie detector test which is used to prove

truthfulness of a subject, measures and records several physiological indices such
as:

 Blood pressure
 Pulse
 Respiration
 Skin conductivity.

while a person is asked and answers a series of questions.

Lie detection is also known as deception detection.

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 HISTORY

The study of physiological methods for deception tests measuring emotional

disturbances began in the early 19th century.

The first polygraph was created in 1921, when a California-based policeman and
physiologist John A. Larson devised an apparatus to simultaneously measure
continuous changes in blood pressure, heart rate and respiration rate in order to
aid in the detection of deception. However, the invention of the polygraph
cannot be attributed to a single individual.

 Benussi was the first to work on practical deception tests based on

physiological changes.

 The first attempt to develop a scientific instrument to detect truth was made
by Lombroso in 1895.

 Later, Larsen and Keelar independently designed instruments with new

features to make it more versatile (resourceful).

 John Reid, in 1947 further improved the instrument as well as the technique
of administering the test.

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 OBJECTIVES OF POLYGRAPH
EXAMINATION

 To verify the veracity of the statement of suspect, witness and

complainant in all types of crime.

 To replace the third degree method of interrogation in a scientific manner.

 To examine white collar criminals, economic offenders, cyber criminals

and other offenders.

 To corroborate the findings of the investigation.

PRINCIPLE ON WHICH POLYGRAPH

INSTRUMENT FUNCTIONS

The polygraph is based on the principle of psychosomatic interaction of an

individual.

This means, a change takes place in person who consciously (willfully) holds
feelings, which manifest (evident) into physiological changes in his blood
pressure, pulse rate, respiration and electrodermal response.

Hence it is the fear of detection and not the guilt which produces
measurable physiological responses.

HOW DOES IT FUNCTIONS

Polygraph machines records multiple signals using 04 to 06 sensors attached to

the person’s body.
The sensor’s usually records following things of a person:

 Breathing rate
 Pulse
 Blood Pressure
 Perspiration
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 TYPES OF POLYGRAPH INSTRUMENTS

A polygraph instrument is basically a combination of medical devices that are

used to monitor changes occurring in the body which includes:

 One pneumograph tube is fastened around chest and another around

abdomen to measure the variation in respiratory pattern.

 A blood pressure cuff or a sphygmomanometer, similar to the one used by

physicians, is attached to the subjects upper arm.
It collects heart rate data and blood pressure.

 Electrodes or galvanograph are attached to the hand or index and ring

fingers, through which a weak electric current is passed to measure the
galvanic skin response (GSR).
It measures electro-dermal activity or sweat

 Plethysmograph is a transducer. It is attached to the thumb. It measures

blood volume reflecting the pulse rate.

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 ADMINISTTRATION OF THE TEST

 Familiarizing the subject with the test

 Pre-test Interview
 Formulating questions
 Analysis of the result
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 CATEGORIES OF QUESTIONING
TECHINQUE

In questioning the subject, generally the basic approaches are followed:

 Relevant Questions

A relevant question is one that deals with the real issue of concern to the
investigation. These questions include asking whether the examinee
perpetrated (committed) the target act or knows who did it and
perhaps questions about particular pieces of evidence that would incriminate
(implicate) the guilty person.

Assumption
A liar or guilty person will be more aroused by relevant questions
than irrelevant ones, while an innocent person will show no difference

 Irrelevant Questions

An irrelevant question is one designed to provoke no emotion i.e. not

associated with the real issue.

Assumption
A liar or guilty person will be more provoked by relevant questions
than Irrelevant ones, while an innocent person will show no difference

 Control Questions
These are inter spread among the relevant and irrelevant questions. They do
not directly relate to the crime under investigation, but to a similar situation
in which the answers may have a feeling of concern with respect to either its
truthfulness or its accuracy.

Assumption
 Guilty person will show more provoke lying to relevant questions
 Innocent person will show more provoke lying to comparison questions

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 Peak of tension questions

It is framed when some of the important details of the offence in question are
not made known to the subject. The test questions in this case are framed in
such a way that only one question will have bearing upon the matter under
investigation and all others coming close to the guilty knowledge. The series of
questions framed are first read to the subject and later they are administered
with the instrument attached.

Assumption
 A guilty person will react strongest when the correct alternative is chosen
 An innocent person may simply become more aroused as the test goes on,
but will not show a significant sudden increase in arousal to one alternative

ANALYSIS OF THE POLYGRAPGH CHART

The Polygraph examiner considers the following aspects while analysing the
results of the test:

 Simultaneous occurrence in respiration and increase in blood pressure

immediately after the subject’s reply.
 Heavier breathing immediately after reply to a relevant question.
 Decrease in blood pressure several seconds after the subject reply.
 Slowing up pulse rate after the questioning session and after the subject is
informed that there will be no more questions.
 Variation in the blood pressure curve during the test e.g. downward trend
indicates release of tension i.e. the subject feels at ease, horizontal trend
indicates no change in the emotional state, upward trend indicates increase
in tension, suggesting deception or guilty.

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 WORKING PROCESS OF THE
POLYGRAPGH EXAMINER
The working process briefly involves following aspects:

 The subject is asked about the crime he has committed. He knows that if he
or she answers the question truthfully, he or she would be punished for the
same.

 He or she wants to tell lies to avoid punishment.

 His or her mental faculties set in to find lies to substitute truth. This shielding
process is called defense mechanism.
 The Defense Mechanism interacts with the body and creates physiological
changes in the form of increased blood pressure, increased respiration
rate, increased heart beat and lower GSR (Galvanic Skin Response).

 Evaluations of these responses are done by the psychologists personally or

he uses the computer to evaluate the results.

JUDICIAL APPROACH TOWARDS

POLYGRAPH TEST IN INDIA

 The main provision regarding crime investigation and trial in the Indian
constitution is Article 20(3).

 It deals the privilege against self-incrimination. The privilege against self-

incrimination is a fundamental canon of common law of criminal
jurisprudence.

 Article 20(3) which embody this privilege states that:

“No person accused of any offence shall be compelled to be a witness
against himself”.
The result of polygraph examination is not accepted in Indian courts.

 There is no provision in the Criminal Procedure Code, Evidence Act and

Constitution to accept the results of polygraph test.
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 CONCLUSION

The principle behind polygraph tests is questionable because the measured

changes in stimulation state are not necessarily triggered by lying or deception.
Instead, these could be triggered by nervousness, anxiety, fear, confusion,
hypoglycemia, psychosis, depression, substance induced (nicotine, stimulants),
substance withdrawal state (alcohol withdrawal) or other emotions.

This state has also been attributed to the way the questions are asked by the
investigating officers.

At the same time, it is not difficult to beat polygraph tests by a trained person,
who is able to control or suppress his/her arousal symptoms through relaxation
exercises, Yoga, meditation, etc. Hence, the reliability of the polygraph test has
been repeatedly questioned in empirical studies.
However, police in India have been using it as an aid to interrogation.

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