Forensic Psychology Aspects: Lie Detector Tests

The legal status of polygraph interrogation and associated lie detector tests has been the focus of many forensic psychologists interested in understanding how the different physiological indices recorded during the tests could be used to determine the guilt or innocence of an individual. At the core of this debate is whether the results of the various indices that make up a lie detector test (e.g., blood pressure, pulse, respiration, and skin conductivity) could be presented as evidence in a competent court of law or judicial jurisdiction, particularly in criminal cases (Bartol & Bartol, 2016). But while the debate is ongoing, it is important to note that lie detector tests are not limited to the criminal justice system. On the contrary, these tests are used in private practice in the United States and elsewhere in the world, though their application differ based on prevailing legal requirements (Crighton & Towl, 2014). The present discussion forum aims to not only compare how lie detector tests are used in the private sector and in the criminal justice system, but also to provide a position on their necessity for people intending to have a career in the police or in the private sector.