lie detector tests

@Eveeox (27)
United States
March 28, 2013 10:54pm CST
Hey I was recently reading about something in my psychology book and came across a question that not even my teacher could answer. She says in some cases, people sometimes believe in things that didn't really happen. But if they tell themselves enough for a long period of time, then they tend to just remember it as the way they thought of it. So does that mean if you do something bad, and the authorities want to give you a lie detector test, is it possible to pass it if we can make ourselves think that we didn't do it? Is this how society lets our criminals go free? Lie detectors can not read your mind. But it can read your brain waves and your heart beat. Anyone can slow a heart beat down if they know how to control it. In my opinion, it just a waste of time. What are your thoughts on it?
2 people like this
10 responses
@grvdubey11 (1879)
• India
30 Mar 13
Yes it is possible to pass lie detector tests.But for that a person should know how a lie detector works, secondly he has to do lot of practice since its not easy to control heart rate.I have not tried it but i think it would be very difficult to come out clean in such tests because every-time a question is asked from you its natural that your mind will react in a certain manner and that shows on charts.It would be interesting to know how people do it,i mean control their heart rate ans emotions,may be through meditation.
@Eveeox (27)
• United States
31 Mar 13
I know a couple of people who are able to do that. And they never did anything wrong.
@doroffee (4222)
• Hungary
30 Mar 13
I think most of the times people who remember about a heinous crime in a whole different way are mentally crazy, and those could not be taken to prisons anyway, they just get rid of mental care... which is still a bad thing, but those I would not call criminal in a sense of the word. And yes, tbhis could happen. My grandma has a mental condition like this where she made up stories about herself, and she actually believed them, when they could NOT happen. I think there could even be some pro liars, who know how to control their heartbeats and all, but most criminals would actually start being nervous at a lie detector test, and those feeling you can't really control, unless you're pro criminal or a sociopath.
@Eveeox (27)
• United States
30 Mar 13
I love how you worded this lol. Because I know a couple of "sicopaths" and "child molesters" that got off scott free. And they are considered mentally retarded. And i can relate with you about you grandma. My mom is mentally retarded, bad enough to where she's actually in a mental ward.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
29 Mar 13
I totally agree with you. A lie detector is not always accurate. To many people know how to beat the test so they get to walk away from a crime they committed. It is a big waste of time especially since its not allowed in court during trial. So I'm not sure why its still used when so many people can find out online how to beat the test.
@Eveeox (27)
• United States
29 Mar 13
honestly, despite killing criminals that we can't figure out who did it, I say we should go back to the olden times where people were hung for their crimes and the whole town judges instead of just one man in the big chair. That way people cant lie their way out by knowing how to control their inner organs. I also believe we should all go back to horse and buggy. Cars pollute the air to much. But that's just me.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
16 Apr 13
Yes, there are definitely people who can take a lie detector test and pass it by believing what they program their brain to believe. I think it is very easy for some psycho people to do without a problem. That is probably why they are not permitted during a trial because it can be easily fixed by the criminal's mind. Then you have some people who take the test and are innocent but didn't pass it due to their nerves being shot because they were taking the test. It is very tricky test and I hope I never have to take one.
• Pamplona, Spain
21 Apr 13
Hello Eve., Before a few times I have seen those lie detectors being used on people on television and I honestly do not think that they are totally reliable. Having summed up the situation each time I was watching and having seen those people before I think that some of the reactions might be true but its almost like they are rehearsed. I always get the feeling that they try to control the "bad bits" about themselves and that´s probably where the error comes up. Even though you are innocent the machine itself can make you nervous I don´t really know however if that has a real influence on the end results itself.xxx
• Indonesia
16 Apr 13
I think lie detector using hardware is really unreliable, human mind can't be seen from such a tool. The most reliable lie detector is the human itself since they know about human better than those stupid test tool. Technique involving microexpression, NLP and experience will work better.
• Marikina, Philippines
5 Apr 13
True. Yes it is true. Lie detecter tests is not perfect. Anyway, is there any man made that is purely perfect? Even computers are not perfect. Books are not perfect. Men are not perfect. The world is not perfect. Yes. It is all in the mind. Sometimes, people can't remember anything and so, it is possible to pass the lie detector test. Now, if the criminal are so smart, they really can pass the lie detector test. God is only perfect in the whole world. If we compare the man made tools that some of the people think its perfect, I think only God is perfect and so, even if criminals can pass the lie detector test, the criminal can't escape from God. God can read people's mind directly and literally and with telepathy. Lie detector test can only read brain waves.
@lady1993 (27225)
• Philippines
6 Apr 13
I think lie detector tests are not very effective.. since even experts say that they cannot be 100 true. Since they just base their results on people's reaction, and some people know how to control their reactions very well- they can lie easily.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
6 Apr 13
That is why this Lie Detectors are not 100% reliable. Coz there are people who can control how they feel especially if they have conditioned their minds on certain issues.
@Arieles (2473)
• United States
11 Apr 13
Lie detectors are not allowed to be used as evidence in any criminal case. They are not always accurate. I think a nervous person just might skew the results and a calmer person can pass it with flying colors. If you think someone is guilty, you usually have to have proof. Agreed..lie detectors are a waste of time.