AntiPolygraph.org Message Board

mike wrote on Sep 8^th, 2003 at 5:26pm:

What is the Backster Technique? How does it work?

George has filled you in on one "Technique" Clive is known for, there is another George graciously didn't re-itterate this time.

He polygraphs plants. In fact he "discovered" that plants could be polygraphed. See the chapter on Clive in this book's cast of characters.

http://www.biomindsuperpowers.com/Pages/2.html

Here's an excerpt:

I protested that I had no idea how to influence plants. But he smiled and said that all I had to do was TO THINK of harming it. "Just think of lighting a match with the intent of burning one of its leaves."

So, I thought as much while staring at the plant. And Behold! The polygraph needle went haywire -- so much so that the tracing went off the paper graph sheet.
Backster, typically cool as a cucumber, now seemed to get a little excited. "Can you do that again?"
So I tried again, and bingo by Ingo! He asked me to keep on doing it. But after a few more attempts the polygraph needle started not to react as much and finally didn't at all.

"What does THAT mean," I asked.
"You tell me."
Then a very eerie thought occurred to me, so astonishing that it caused goosebumps.
"Do you mean," I asked, "that it has LEARNED that I'm not serious about really burning its leaf? So that it now knows it need not be alarmed."

-Marty

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Posted by: George W. Maschke Posted on: Sep 11^th, 2003 at 9:26pm	Mark & Quote Quote
Yes, the "Backster technique" is just another form of probable-lie CQT.

Posted by: Mike - Ex Member Posted on: Sep 10^th, 2003 at 4:13pm	Mark & Quote Quote
So basically it is just a better way of scoring the test, and asking the questions. Other than that there is no real difference between that and other probable lie CQT's right?

Posted by: George W. Maschke Posted on: Sep 10^th, 2003 at 7:45am	Mark & Quote Quote
Marty, See also, "The Plants Respond: An Interview With Cleve Backster" by Derrick Jensen. It's also worth noting that Cleve Backster is the founder of the CIA's polygraph program.

Posted by: Mike - Ex Member Posted on: Sep 8^th, 2003 at 10:47pm	Mark & Quote Quote
Thank you for your response.

Posted by: George W. Maschke Posted on: Sep 8^th, 2003 at 9:42pm	Mark & Quote Quote
Cleve Backster developed a version of the probable-lie "control" question "test" that is known as the "Zone Comparison Test" (ZCT). In this technique, which is widely used for the interrogation of criminal suspects, reactions to relevant questions are compared with reactions to adjacent "control" questions. You'll find some sample ZCT formats in Appendix B of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.