NCJ Number
84685
Journal
Polygraph Volume: 11 Issue: 1 Dated: (March 1982) Pages: 37-45
Date Published
1982
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Polygraph examiners should always take into account the behavior symptoms of polygraph examination subjects before submitting their final report.
Abstract
What a person says or does before, during, and after the polygraph examination should indicate if the suspect is lying. If the behavior symptoms and polygraph charts are in accord, the examiner's task is easy. If the behavior symptoms suggest guilt but the polygraph charts indicate innocence, the examiner should report that the subject is innocent. However, if behavior symptoms contradict polygraph records, the examiner should reevaluate the subject's behavior symptoms and the control questions. Outstanding behavior symptoms frequently associated with guilt include closed eyes when giving responses, shifting in the chair during examination, and dry mouth. The proper use of behavior symptoms is helpful as a precautionary measure to protect innocent subjects from false positive reports and as an aid in preventing false negative reports of guilty subjects. No references are cited.