From: jcs
Interrogations and polygraph examinations often involve specific psychological techniques designed to elicit truthful responses and analyze suspect behavior [00:00:28].
Behavior-Provoking Questions
One such technique is the “behavior-provoking question” [00:00:28]. This type of question aims to observe how an individual responds when asked about potential consequences for the crime under investigation [00:00:25].
- Innocent Person Response: An innocent person typically provides a “draconian response,” immediately suggesting the harshest possible sentence for the falsely accused crime [00:00:32]. For example, when asked what should happen to the person who took the children, an innocent individual might suggest “life in prison” if the children are involved [00:01:02], or even the death penalty if the children are not alive [00:01:28].
- Deceptive Individual Response: A deceptive individual will often give an “equivocating response,” fragmenting and diverting from the question to avoid answering it directly [00:00:41]. For example, a deceptive person might focus on the children coming home safe rather than the perpetrator’s punishment [00:00:53], or question the legality of a penalty in their state [00:01:20].
Interrogation Techniques Prior to Polygraph
Before a polygraph test, interrogators may employ various psychological dynamics and techniques to influence the suspect’s mental state [00:07:19].
Amplifying Anxiety
Interrogators are often receptive to a suspect’s anxiety and may try to amplify this emotion before ending an interview [00:07:19]. This is done to increase the suspect’s apprehension for an upcoming polygraph test [00:07:26]. They might describe the sleeplessness and racing thoughts the suspect will experience, encouraging them to call when these thoughts lead to a desire to disclose more information [00:07:43].
Passive Accusation and Reframing
Another technique involves subtle psychological pressure [00:08:37].
“The following discourse from the officer could be construed as the reframing technique, where an interrogator will try and shift the suspect’s view of themselves from negative to positive as a means to lightening the iniquity of their crimes and increasing the chances of a confession. However, this is more likely what is known as passive accusation, where the interrogator is almost certain of the suspect’s guilt and indirectly accuses and in some manner indignifies the suspect” [00:08:37].
This is made evident by giving high praise for trivial deeds, such as a father getting his children second pairs of clothes, cooking eggs, or giving snacks [00:09:04].
The Polygraph Test Process
The polygraph is not foolproof, but a heightened state of anxiety makes it considerably more challenging to “beat” [00:10:40].
Pre-Test Phase
During the pre-test phase, the polygrapher will:
- Obtain the examinee’s version of facts: The polygrapher will ask the examinee for their account of the events under investigation [00:12:09].
- Discuss ways to cause disappearance/murder: This is a psychological pressure disguised as routine questioning [00:13:56]. The interrogator wants the suspect to go through these scenarios in their head to understand exactly what is being asked when questions about causing a disappearance are posed [00:14:06].
- Examples of physical ways to cause disappearance through murder include stabbing, shooting, hitting with a blunt object, strangling, drowning, or burning [00:15:23].
- Other methods to cause disappearance could include kidnapping, taking someone to another country, or burying them [00:15:58].
- Psychological pressure disguised as reassurance: The polygrapher will emphasize their advanced training and the accuracy of the test, reassuring the suspect that if they are innocent, the polygraph will prove it [00:10:11]. However, this is a psychological technique used when the suspect’s guilt is almost conclusive, aiming to increase their anxiety [00:10:30].
Directed Lie Test
The polygraph often employs a “directed lie polygraph” [00:18:04]. In this test, the examinee is explicitly instructed to lie on certain questions [00:18:07]. The polygrapher explains that there are two ways to fail the test:
- Failing to follow instructions (e.g., not sitting still or answering questions correctly) [00:10:58].
- Choosing to lie about involvement in the disappearance [00:11:08].
Question Types
The directed lie test has three types of questions [00:18:18]:
- Known Truth Questions: Easy questions (e.g., “Are you sitting down?”) used to establish a baseline reading for when the subject is telling the truth and to disconnect thought patterns between questions [00:18:20]. These should elicit very little bodily response [00:18:32].
- Control Questions: Questions that the polygrapher instructs the examinee to purposely lie about (e.g., “Before 2018, did you ever lose your temper with someone you cared about?“) [00:18:44]. These are designed so all answers will be “no” [00:18:56].
- Relevant Questions: Questions specific to the crime being investigated, which the examinee is expected to answer truthfully [00:19:01]. A guilty subject will show a much stronger reaction to these questions than to control questions, even if lying on both, due to the immediate threat posed by the relevant questions [00:19:07].
Polygraph Results and Post-Test Interrogation
After the polygraph, the polygrapher may initially give a compliment to boost the suspect’s confidence, only to then abruptly reveal the true findings [00:20:01].
For instance, the polygrapher might state that the suspect is a “really bad liar” and that their significant physiological reactions during the control questions indicate they know it’s wrong to lie [00:20:17]. This sets the stage for the revelation that any lies about the actual crime would be “10 times more amplified” [00:20:56]. The polygrapher then announces the test results, making it “completely clear” that the suspect was not honest [00:23:32]. This direct challenge is designed to prompt a confession [00:23:52].
For example, in the Chris Watts interrogation and polygraph test, the polygrapher tells him, “it is completely clear that you were not honest during the testing and I think you already know that…he did not pass the polygraph test” [00:23:32]. This direct accusation after the polygraph test is a common police interrogation tactic to encourage disclosure [00:23:52].