CHAPTER II

DECEPTION DETECTION
Methods of deception detection used by
law enforcement agencies:
1.Devices which record the psychophysiological response
a. Polygraph or lie detector machine
records physiological changes that occur
in association with lying in a polygraph.
Phases of Examination
i. Pre-test interview
ii. Actual interrogation and recording
through the instrument
Standard test questions:
1.Irrelevant questions no bearing to
the case under investigation (ex: age,
citizenship, occupation, etc).
2.Relevant questions pertaining to
the issue under investigation (ex: Did
you shoot to death Mr. X?).
3.Control questions unrelated to the
matter under investigation but are of
similar nature although less serious
as compared to those relevant
questions (ex: Have you ever used a
gun?).
iii. Post-test interrogation
Supplementary tests:
i. Peak-of-tension test may be given if
subject is not yet informed of the
details of the offense for which he is
being interrogated by the investigator.
ii. Guilt complex test applied when the
response to relevant and control
questions are similar in degree and
consistency in a way that the examiner
cannot determine whether the subject
is telling the truth or not.
iii. Silent answer test conducted in the
same manner as when relevant,
irrelevant and control questions are

asked, but the subject is instructed to

answer the questions silently, to
himself, without making any verbal
response.
Factors responsible for the 25% errors
of the lie detector:
1.Nervousness or extreme emotional
tension experienced by a subject who is
telling the truth regarding the offense in
question
2.Physiological abnormalities
3.Mental abnormalities
4.Unresponsiveness in a living or guilty
subject
5.Attempt to beat the machine by
controlled breathing or by muscular
flexing
6.Unobserved application of muscular
pressure which produces ambiguities
and misleading indications in the blood
pressure tracing
b.Word association test A list of
stimulus and non-stimulus words are read
to the subject who is instructed to answer
as quickly as possible. The time interval
between the words uttered by the
examiner and the answer of the subject is
recorded. The test is not concerned with
the answer, be it a yes or no. The
important factor is the time of response in
relation to the stimulus or non-stimulus
words.
c. Psychological stress evaluator (PSE)
detects, measures, and graphically
displays the voice modulations that we
cannot hear. When a person speaks, there
are audible voice frequencies, and
superimposed on these are the inaudible
frequency modulations which are
products of minute oscillation of the
muscles of the voice mechanism. Such
oscillations
of
the
muscles
or
microtremor occur at the rate of 8 to 14

cycles per second and controlled by the

central nervous system.
2.Use of drugs that try to inhibit the
inhibitor
a. Truth serum In the test, hyoscine
hydrobromide is given hypodermically in
repeated doses until a state of delirium is
induced. When the proper point is
reached, the questioning begins and the
subject feels a compulsion to answer the
questions truthfully.
b.Narcoanalysis or narcosynthesis
practically the same as that of
administration of truth serum. The only
difference is the drug used. Psychiatric
sodium amytal or sodium penthotal is
administered to the subject.
c. Intoxication the apparent stimulation
effect of alcohol is really the result of the
control mechanism of the brain, so
alcohol,
like
truth
serum,
and
narcoanalytic
drugs
inhibit
the
inhibitor. (In vino veritas in wine there
is truth)
3.Hypnotism

the
alteration
of
consciousness and concentration in which
the subject manifests a heightened of
suggestibility
while
awareness
is
maintained.
4.By observation
Physiological and psychological signs and
symptoms of guilt:
a. Sweating if accompanied with a
flushed
face
indicate
anger,
embarrassment or extreme nervousness.
If with a pallid face, may indicate shock
or fear. Sweating hands indicate tension.
b.Color change flushed face may
indicate anger, embarrassment or shame.
Pale face is sign of guilt.
c. Dryness of the mouth nervous tension
causes dryness of the mouth which causes

continuous swallowing and licking of the

lips.
d.Excessive activity of the Adams apple
on account of dryness of the throat,
subject will swallow saliva which causes
frequent
upward
and
downward
movement of the Adams apple.
e. Fidgeting constantly moving about in
the chair, pulling his ears, rubbing his
face, picking and tweaking the nose, etc.
Indicative of nervous tension.
f. Peculiar feeling inside there is a
sensation of lightness of the head and the
subject is confused. Result of troubled
conscience.
g.Swearing to the truthfulness of his
assertion I swear to God I am telling
the truth
h.Spotless past record subject may
assert that it is not possible for him to do
anything like that inasmuch as he is a
religious man and that he has a spotless
record.
i. Inability to look at the investigator
straight in the eye because of fear
that his guilt may be seen in his eyes.
j. Not that I remember expression
resort to this expression to avoid
committing something prejudicial to him.
5.Scientific interrogation the questioning
of a person suspected of having committed
an offense or of persons who are reluctant
to make a full disclosure of information in
his possession which is pertinent to the
investigation.
Suspect person whose guilt is considered
on reasonable ground
Witness person other than the suspect
who is requested to give information
Different types of criminal offenders
a. Based on behavioral attitude:

i. Active aggressive offenders commit

crimes in an impulsive manner
ii. Passive inadequate offenders
commit crimes because of inducement,
promise or reward.
b.Based on the state of mind
i. Rational offenders commit crime
with motive or intention
ii. Irrational offenders commit crime
without knowing the nature and quality
of his act.
c. Based on proficiency
i. Ordinary offenders engaged in
crimes which require limited skill
ii. Professional offenders commit
crimes which require special skills
rather than violence.
d.Psychological classification
i. Emotional offenders commit crimes
in the heat of passion, anger, or
revenge.
ii. Non-emotional offenders commit
crimes for financial gain and are
usually recidivist or repeaters.
Techniques of Interrogation
a. Emotional appeal interrogator must
create a mood that is conducive to
confession
b.Mutt and Jeff technique there must be
at least 2 investigators with opposite
character; one (Mutt) who is arrogant and
relentless, and the other (Jeff) who is
friendly, sympathetic and kind.
c. Bluff on split-pair technique
applicable where there are two or more
persons who allegedly participated in the
commission of a crime. While one of
them is interrogated, the interrogator may
claim that the subject was implicated by
the author and that there is no use for him
to deny participation.
d.Stern approach questions must be
answered clearly, and the interrogator
utilizes harsh language.

e. The subject is given the opportunity to

make a lengthy, time-consuming
narration.
6.Confession

an
expressed
acknowledgment by the accused in a
criminal case of the truth of his guilt as to
the crime charged, or of some essentials
thereof.