1500 word essay -- 2
Budget: $10 – $30 USD
The topic:
From Psychology Today: The modern polygraph, AKA, the “lie detector test,” is an instrument with a long
and controversial history. The theory behind the polygraph is that when people are lying, they experience a
different emotional state than when telling the truth. Specifically, it is thought that when people lie, especially in
high stakes scenarios such as police interrogations, they are anxious or afraid of being caught in a lie. The fear
of being detected causes increased activation of their sympathetic nervous system. This activation leads to an
increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and perspiration. These changes are part of the fight-or-flight
system that initiates whenever we are scared. You have probably felt your heart pounding or your palms
sweating when faced with danger, be it a vicious dog, an angry boss, or an upcoming exam. Moreover, the
polygraph is used in criminal investigations, although it is generally not admissible as evidence in a trial. It is
also used as a pre-employment and continuing employment screening tool for many federal employees who
work in sensitive positions, such as CIA agents and FBI agents. Private businesses, however, cannot force their
employees to submit to a polygraph test. So, what do you think? Should the polygraph’s continued use be
allowed by law? Are the results accurate? Construct an argument, in MLA format, where you argue your take
on this issue. Use recent data and library research to evaluate the controversy and support your claims.
Some keywords/terms for consideration for research: accuracy, law enforcement, terrorism, interrogations,
personality, deception, polygraph operators.
From Psychology Today: The modern polygraph, AKA, the “lie detector test,” is an instrument with a long
and controversial history. The theory behind the polygraph is that when people are lying, they experience a
different emotional state than when telling the truth. Specifically, it is thought that when people lie, especially in
high stakes scenarios such as police interrogations, they are anxious or afraid of being caught in a lie. The fear
of being detected causes increased activation of their sympathetic nervous system. This activation leads to an
increase in heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and perspiration. These changes are part of the fight-or-flight
system that initiates whenever we are scared. You have probably felt your heart pounding or your palms
sweating when faced with danger, be it a vicious dog, an angry boss, or an upcoming exam. Moreover, the
polygraph is used in criminal investigations, although it is generally not admissible as evidence in a trial. It is
also used as a pre-employment and continuing employment screening tool for many federal employees who
work in sensitive positions, such as CIA agents and FBI agents. Private businesses, however, cannot force their
employees to submit to a polygraph test. So, what do you think? Should the polygraph’s continued use be
allowed by law? Are the results accurate? Construct an argument, in MLA format, where you argue your take
on this issue. Use recent data and library research to evaluate the controversy and support your claims.
Some keywords/terms for consideration for research: accuracy, law enforcement, terrorism, interrogations,
personality, deception, polygraph operators.