Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Lie detector tests, also known as polygraph tests, are used to measure physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, and skin conductance to determine if a person is telling the truth or lying.
Related terms
False Positives: These occur when the polygraph wrongly indicates that someone is lying even though they are telling the truth.
False Negatives: These occur when the polygraph fails to detect lies and wrongly concludes that someone is telling the truth.
Invasion of Privacy: The use of lie detector tests can be seen as an invasion of privacy since it involves monitoring personal physiological responses without consent.