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 detection involves attempting to determine if someone is being deceptive or dishonest through various means such as analyzing verbal cues, body language, physiological responses, or using technology like polygraph tests or functional MRI scans.
Deception refers to intentionally misleading others by providing false information or withholding important details.
Polygraph Test: A polygraph test is also known as a lie detector test. It measures physiological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, and skin conductivity while questioning an individual in order to assess their truthfulness.
Verbal Cues: Verbal cues are nonverbal signals, such as changes in speech patterns, tone of voice, or word choice that can provide hints about a person's honesty or deception.