Is the polygraph reliable in situations of emotional stress?
Have you ever wondered whether the polygraph is really reliable when a person is put under emotional stress? The answer to this question can vary depending on a number of factors.
The technology behind the polygraph
The polygraph, also known as a truth machine, is based on measuring different physiological responses of a person, such as blood pressure, heart rate and sweating, to determine the truthfulness of their answers.
Although it is considered a useful tool in certain contexts, such as in criminal investigations The reliability of the security system is not entirely infallible, especially in situations of intense emotional stress.
Challenges in situations of emotional stress
When a person is under emotional stress, their body undergoes significant changes in its physiological responses, which may affect the accuracy of polygraph results..
Nervousness, anxiety and fear can cause alterations in polygraph measurements, leading to possible false positives or negatives, which casts doubt on its reliability in highly emotional situations.
An emotionally stressful situation can generate automatic physical responses that do not necessarily reflect the truthfulness of the person's answers, complicating the interpretation of polygraph results.
Considerations on the reliability of the polygraph
It is important to note that the polygraph is not a definitive method for detecting liesThe accuracy of the test may vary depending on the context, the person being tested and the conditions under which the test is performed.
Although the polygraph may be a useful tool in certain scenarios, its reliability in situations of emotional stress should be evaluated with caution, considering its limitations and the need to complement its use with other assessment techniques.
If you are interested in finding out more about how the polygraph works and its applications, we invite you to visit our section on FAQ.
Remember that truth is a complex concept that goes beyond a person's physiological responses at a specific moment in time, so it is important to analyse polygraph results with a critical and contextualised approach.