The Autonomic Nervous System and Deception Detection

THE AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM

Stammering: Frequent pausing or repetition of sounds when speaking, can indicate nervousness or deceit.
Swearing to GOD or before GOD: Asserts innocence with a strong emphasis, often used to convince others of truthfulness.
Pointing guilt to somebody else: Directing suspicion towards another individual instead of owning up to the act.
Refuses to answer questions: Employs alibis and excuses to evade direct questioning.
Always absent-minded: Appearing distracted or not fully present in conversation.
Requests for repetitions of questions: Indicates uncertainty in responses; may be a tactic to buy time.
Asks counter-questions: Responding to inquiries with additional questions as a way to deflect.
Requests to go to comfort rooms: May signal anxiety or discomfort in the situation.

Observation of behavioral responses: Correlation between non-verbal cues and verbal statements.

General Posture: Leaning slightly forward with body alignment indicating engagement.
Head and Face: Appropriate expression and head positioning reflect sincerity.
Eyes: Maintaining normal eye contact suggests honesty.
Arms and Hands: Natural gestures; arms may touch the chest during speech.
Sense Arousal Gestures: No signs of physical stress or nervous behavior.
Feet and Legs: Relaxed, open positioning.

General Posture: Leaning backward, indicating defensiveness.
Head and Face: Inappropriate expressions or awkward head positioning suggesting discomfort or deceit.
Eyes: Frequent breaks in eye contact, indicating avoidance.
Arms and Hands: Defensive behaviors, such as crossing arms or pointing away.
Sense Arousal Gestures: Observable stress-responsive behaviors.
Feet and Legs: Crisscrossing of feet when seated, a sign of anxiety.

Early Human Detection Methods: Historical methods to discern lies and guilt.

Red Hot Iron Ordeal: Accused places tongue on a red-hot iron multiple times as a test of endurance and truthfulness.
Ordeal by the Balance: Accused is weighed against a counterbalance; a lighter weight leads to acquittal.
Boiling Water Ordeal: Involves immersing the arm in boiling water; blisters indicate guilt.
Ordeal by Rice Chewing: Accused chews rice and spits, with blood or swelling indicating deceit.
Ordeal of the Red Water: After fasting, swallowing rice and dark water indicates innocence if all is ejected.
Combination of Drinks and Food Ordeal: Similar to the above, testing for retention of consumed materials.
Trial by Combat: A physical fight to prove innocence or guilt based on the outcome.
Trial by Torture: Endurance of pain determines innocence.
Drinking Ordeal: Consuming a potion that brings no harm if innocent.
Trial of the Eucharist: Special ceremonial method with spiritual implications for clergy.
Ordeal by Heat and Fire: Walking barefoot through fire as a test of guilt.
Ordeal of Boiling Oil or Water: Dipping hands into boiling substances as a practical test.
Ordeal of Red-Hot Needle: Innocence shown by no visible blood when pricked.
Ordeal of the Tiger: Placing both accuser and accused in a cage with a tiger.
Test of the Cross Ordeal: Stance of arms crossed as an indicator of truth.
Donkey’s Tail Ordeal: Observational test involving behavior around an animal.

Burma: Candle lighting contest where identical candles were used.
Borneo: Shellfish test involving irritation through a liquid.
Greece: A spinning axe as a judgment method.
Nigeria: Tongue piercing with a feather to determine innocence.
Europe and Early US (17th Century): Water floatation method; sinking indicated innocence, floating led to execution.

Hypnotism: Using a trance state to facilitate truthfulness.
The Word Association Test: A method employing stimulus words to draw out truthful responses.
The Truth Serum Method: Administering Byosine Hydrobromide until delirium induces honesty.
Narco-Analysis (or Narco-Synthesis): Use of Sodium Amytal or Penthotal for similar purposes as truth serum.
Intoxication: Analysis of responses following the consumption of alcohol.

Police utilize investigative techniques based on the 5W's and 1H framework: Who, What, Where, When, Why, and How. This method aids in the 3I's of Investigation: Information Gathering, Investigation, and Instrumentation.

Dr. Hans Gross, known as the "Father of Criminalistics," emphasized the truth search as fundamental to criminal investigations and was vital in developing polygraph technology.

Instruments measure lying through analyzing voice stress recorded through computers or cell phones, assessing responses to various scenarios.