Amit Katwala

And does it work? Essentially, the reason the polygraph has been so successful is because of the theater around it, right? It works because people believe it works, so that the mere threat of being attached to a polygraph can compel someone to confess to the crime before the exam even takes place. All this today on Something You Should Know.

And does it work? Essentially, the reason the polygraph has been so successful is because of the theater around it, right? It works because people believe it works, so that the mere threat of being attached to a polygraph can compel someone to confess to the crime before the exam even takes place. All this today on Something You Should Know.

And does it work? Essentially, the reason the polygraph has been so successful is because of the theater around it, right? It works because people believe it works, so that the mere threat of being attached to a polygraph can compel someone to confess to the crime before the exam even takes place. All this today on Something You Should Know.

That's the principle or the theory, and we'll get into why that maybe isn't necessarily true later on, I'm sure. But yes, the theory is that if you are doing a polygraph exam, you are going to be scared about getting caught.

That's the principle or the theory, and we'll get into why that maybe isn't necessarily true later on, I'm sure. But yes, the theory is that if you are doing a polygraph exam, you are going to be scared about getting caught.

That's the principle or the theory, and we'll get into why that maybe isn't necessarily true later on, I'm sure. But yes, the theory is that if you are doing a polygraph exam, you are going to be scared about getting caught.

So when you get asked a question that you know you're going to have to lie on, your pulse will start going up, your blood pressure will go up, you might start breathing differently.

So when you get asked a question that you know you're going to have to lie on, your pulse will start going up, your blood pressure will go up, you might start breathing differently.

So when you get asked a question that you know you're going to have to lie on, your pulse will start going up, your blood pressure will go up, you might start breathing differently.

And a skilled polygraph examiner, so the theory goes, should be able to tell the difference between someone who's lying and someone who's telling the truth based on how those things change when they're asked the question.

And a skilled polygraph examiner, so the theory goes, should be able to tell the difference between someone who's lying and someone who's telling the truth based on how those things change when they're asked the question.

And a skilled polygraph examiner, so the theory goes, should be able to tell the difference between someone who's lying and someone who's telling the truth based on how those things change when they're asked the question.

It depends on the scenario. I think a lot of government jobs in the US still require a polygraph exam. So certain military roles, certain police roles. So some people don't have a choice. That was much more rampant until the late kind of 80s when it was outlawed in commercial enterprises.

It depends on the scenario. I think a lot of government jobs in the US still require a polygraph exam. So certain military roles, certain police roles. So some people don't have a choice. That was much more rampant until the late kind of 80s when it was outlawed in commercial enterprises.

It depends on the scenario. I think a lot of government jobs in the US still require a polygraph exam. So certain military roles, certain police roles. So some people don't have a choice. That was much more rampant until the late kind of 80s when it was outlawed in commercial enterprises.

But there was a brief period when even companies like McDonald's were doing polygraph tests on their potential employees. For criminal cases, you know, I think sometimes it's presented as a waste for people to clear their name. So I can see why if you are innocent, you might be tempted by that. And maybe if you're guilty, you sort of think, well, you know, I can maybe get away with it.

But there was a brief period when even companies like McDonald's were doing polygraph tests on their potential employees. For criminal cases, you know, I think sometimes it's presented as a waste for people to clear their name. So I can see why if you are innocent, you might be tempted by that. And maybe if you're guilty, you sort of think, well, you know, I can maybe get away with it.

But there was a brief period when even companies like McDonald's were doing polygraph tests on their potential employees. For criminal cases, you know, I think sometimes it's presented as a waste for people to clear their name. So I can see why if you are innocent, you might be tempted by that. And maybe if you're guilty, you sort of think, well, you know, I can maybe get away with it.

Exactly. That's a really big kind of flaw in the polygraph. And actually, the polygraph was one of the devices that established the set of standards that we now use to determine whether something is admissible in court or not. It was one of the real test cases where they actually looked at it and they thought, hang on, maybe this isn't really science.

Exactly. That's a really big kind of flaw in the polygraph. And actually, the polygraph was one of the devices that established the set of standards that we now use to determine whether something is admissible in court or not. It was one of the real test cases where they actually looked at it and they thought, hang on, maybe this isn't really science.