Passing A Lie Detector Test

[Bedbug]

I was watching the Jeremy Kyle Show earlier (it's a bit of a guilty pleasure at the moment) and it got me wondering...

Ten years ago I had no memory of the abuse I went through as a child. If I had taken a lie detector test and been asked "were you abused?" I would have answered "No." Would I have passed the test? At the time I thought that was the truth.

Also, over the past couple of months I have discovered that I have done tthings in a blackout that I later have no memory of doing (either by finding evidence or by my husband telling me). If had taken a lie detector test immediately after doing one of those things I would have said I didn't do it. Would I have passed the test? Or were these memories never stored at all, rather than repressed? Like sleepwalking?

I guess I'm wondering quite how thoroughly memories can be repressed. Could I have no conscious memory but still have physiological changes in my body that would be picked up by a lie detector test under questioning?

 

[JadedGhost13]

You bring up a VERY interesting question. Now you have my mind wondering.

I have had blackouts, the ones I am aware of are from drinking though. It is scary when you have not a clue as to things you have said or done and others seen and know.

Here is what I understand about a lie detector test.... The machine measures responses in your body like a change in breathing pattern would be one example, and depending on the machine it would and could measure other changes. That being said, a lot of people know that the results are based on the machine measuring these changes. I have heard of people taking things to relax them so they would not "fail" the test. (Things like a nerve pill or something that will relax them)

If we have repressed memories that we are not aware of and we are asked a question pertaining to those traumas I am not sure our body would respond to make a noted mark on a lie detector. Does that make sense? It very well could, but I would think we would not make a mark signaling the machine if we were answering a question about something we have repressed to the point that we have no idea that it ever happened.

On the other hand...

IF we were asked something and it triggered a response in us it would register, but if that happened would that mean that the memories were not buried that deep and suppressed?

 

[Barconian]

I reckon the lie detector would start coming up with a lot of false readings. If the person doing the test is triggered by the questions and has no memory of the facts, true or false, the machine would be useless to get an accurate reading!!!

 

[Bedbug]

I've heard people say that the body remembers, even when the mind does not. As the lie detector looks for bodily responses (heart rate, breathing, sweating, etc), I wondered whether it might pick up on something. But I suppose the questions would be directed to the conscious mind and so would not evoke a physiological response when the relevant memories cannot be accessed. There would need to be some other way of asking the questions. Perhaps by touching the body in particular ways?

 

[franciemarnie]

I wonder if there is any research on this anywhere. I am of a mind that the body does remember though I would speak of horrific things apparently detached or laughing. The body might remember in a different way than a lie detector test would pick up.

When I am in hyper vigilance, my brain tells my GI tract - no time for that now. But you wouldn't know necessarily by looking at me - I might have a lack of affect although I am super alert. I don't know. There are always signs from the body about what's going on but they vary.

 

[Abstract]

Very interesting. Boy, that would be useful! If it worked then I could have something concrete to figure out what is true according to my inner brain.

I suspect there isn't any clear answer here though. Maybe sometimes there would be signs and others there wouldn't be. I don't know.

 

[Barconian]

I suspect there isn't any clear answer here though. Maybe sometimes there would be signs and others there wouldn't be. I don't know.

You've got the idea Abstract :)

 

[scout86]

Interesting question!

My personal wild guess is that would depend on how "repressed" the memory is. If it's repressed to the point that it's really totally inaccessible to you, I'd guess you would have no reaction on the test. If it's "repressed" like it's there but you're actively ignoring it and are kind of ignoring the fact that you're ignoring it ( don't know about anyone else, but I've done that) then it might trigger something that would show up, even though you're not really aware of it.

There are several kinds of people who can pass a lie detector tests. Some things about the way the mind of a psychopath or a narcissist works, for example, set them up to not care about the truth, or what people think, or being "found out", or the rules don't apply to them anyway...... They aren't going to have stress reaction because they don't feel the stress. Similarly, maybe if EVERYTHING makes you feel stressed, truth or lie, the results also might be hard to interpret.

 

[The Albatross]

True story, I once flunked a lie detector test, even though I absolutely was telling the truth. I hope I never have to take another one.

 

[Bedbug]

If it's "repressed" like it's there but you're actively ignoring it and are kind of ignoring the fact that you're ignoring it ( don't know about anyone else, but I've done that) then it might trigger something that would show up, even though you're not really aware of it.

Me too.

Interesting responses, everyone. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

 

[The Albatross]

Um, Bedbug I didn't say that (your quote). But I did flunk a lie detector test.

 

[Bedbug]

I once flunked a lie detector test, even though I absolutely was telling the truth.

Their level of accuracy is widely disputed and even the most ardent proponent would never be able to claim 100% accuracy. I think this point is all too often overlooked, particularly on the Jeremy Kyle Show.