Polygraph & Hollywood

[wanting justice]

After having been personally burned by this pseudo science (false positive, sleazy polygrapher), I am firmly in the anti-polygraph camp.   I have also become highly attuned to the way the polygraph is represented in the media.  I think it reinforces what I heard from many educated, intelligent friends and family members with no personal experience with the polygraph.  Several said to us:  "How the heck did you fail a polygraph if you were telling the truth?"  duh!

If you watch shows like Law & Order, The Practice, soap operas, the polygraph is often used.  It is ALWAYS represented as irrefutable proof of lies/truth.  Although I realize this provides assistance to the plot line, I think that if Hollywood were made aware of how the public perception of the accuracy of this pseudo-science assists polygraphers in abusing people, they might wake up and stop.  Or perhaps highlight its inaccuracy and abuse from time to time.  Anyone here with any  connections to "hollywood"

Anything that so messes with people's lives is inherently dramatic - you'd think there would be some interest.

[George W. Maschke]

I think it is more likely now than it was just a few years ago that screenwriters researching polygraphy will discover it to be that unreliable quackery that it is.

One screenwriter who figured it out is Roy Johansen, who wrote a novel titled The Answer Man (Bantam Books, 1999) in which the protagonist is a polygraph examiner in private practice who teaches countermeasures to a client. (The novel explains the difference between "control" and relevant questions, and how to augment reactions to the "controls.")

In his acknowledgements at the end of the book, Johansen writes:

"And last, but certainly not least, I owe a debt of gratitude to the polygraph examiners I visited--and their complete inability to determine that I was lying to them."

 

[suethem]

Wanting Justice,

I have a friend in Hollywood who I have fed a couple of stories.

One involving a lady of the evening and the back seat of a police car that can not be opened from the inside.  "Dear chief, nobody was more surprised than me...."   When it came out on t.v., the hooker was actually a vampire that sucked souls- go figure!

I asked this writer why, in movies, the cop always has to pull back the receiver  on his weapon every five seconds.  His answer was, "because it sells!"

Hollywood contacts  the 'professionals' of the topic that they are interested in portraying.  So if a movie maker asks a polygrapher, of course its 100%.  

And polygraphs do sell. Thousands of people confess, thereby helping the myth build and build.  Much of LE is based upon myth and fright- we're everywhere, we know everything, if your bad we will get you! (except Enron).

But there are writers, reporters, authors and other people who are not satisfied with spoon fed vanila pudding.

As the myth of the polygraph becomes exposed, we will start to see it being doubted and dismissed on our favorite LE shows.

Its unfortunate that the people who make policy have not been quick to dismiss its use.

Some of that is because polygraphy is a warehouse for cops that can't cut it and retired LE looking to double dip.

And there are people that actually believe the machine knows all (they give me the shivers).  

As for future movie coverage of the polygraph myth,  look towards the Sundance Film festival rather than hollywood.

[Human Subject]

I think it reinforces what I heard from many educated, intelligent friends and family members with no personal experience with the polygraph.  Several said to us:  "How the heck did you fail a polygraph if you were telling the truth?"  duh!

Yes, this is extremely annoying.

I saw another example of TV-world polygraphy on "Dragnet" last week.  A murder suspect passed the polygraph, and this was enough to convince Joe Friday that the guy did not have a direct hand in the murder -- so he was freed to pursue other theories.

They should follow this supposed polygraphic infallibility to its logical conclusion, and just have a show where Joe Friday administers polygraphs to anyone who conceivably could have had a hand in a crime.  Forget all the forensics, ballistics and good old fashioned detective work!  Those are just a waste of time, anyway.

[Canadian Crusader]

Same sort of misrepresentation on that reality TV show "Who wants to marry my Dad?".  I think it was mentioned in another post.

They have some wanna be polygrapher with his starsky and hutch moustache trying to look all intimidating.  Never smiles.  He hooks up the female contestants and the Dads kids get to ask any and all questions of the potential wives.  The kids ask a question and within 5 seconds the polygrapher gives the old thumbs up or thumbs down to the ladies answers.  Absolute comedy.  The response from the polygrapher is taken as 100% truth and the crowd eats it up.  The Dads children all exchange shifty glances, the crowd hums and ohhhhs at the thumbs down results.  

You see the ladies flailing their arms, crying, laughing, yelling, talking throughout the poly test all while still being hooked up.  

The best part is at the end of the test when the polygrapher says "the test is over, please don't move until I tell you to" like it really matters!   LOL   Please.  Great to watch if you are looking for a laugh.