Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph: Scientific Truth Verification — Lie Detection

Our Expert Review

This hardbound 800-page volume represents the most complete and comprehensive book ever written on forensic psychophysiology using the polygraph. "Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph" is the long awaited bible of scientific truth verification and lie detection. As a professional polygraph service, we recognize this textbook as the foundational reference that has shaped modern polygraph practice worldwide.

This most authoritative 25-chapter book contains a 23-page Glossary of Term, 143 Figures, 23 Tables, 17 Appendices, and a 65-page Index. The comprehensive nature of Matte's work becomes evident when examining specific sections that have become industry standards. The chapters covering the Matte Quadri-Track Zone Comparison Technique are particularly noteworthy, as this technique has been independently validated in multiple field studies with accuracy rates exceeding 95%. The Quadri-Track Zone Comparison Technique was initially developed by James Allan Matte in 1977 and was found to be 96.5% accurate in the identification of the Innocent and the Guilty.

What sets this textbook apart is its practical application combined with rigorous scientific foundation. At the present time there is no comparable text. The author's military background and extensive field experience inform every chapter, providing real-world context that is often missing from academic treatments of the subject. The sections on countermeasures and detection techniques are invaluable for practicing examiners who must deal with sophisticated attempts at deception.

In his Foreword to this book, Cleve Backster, a world renowned authority on forensic psychophysiology, stated that this book will be the enduring source within the polygraph profession for many years. This prediction has proven accurate, as the book remains the primary reference text in polygraph schools and law enforcement agencies globally. His field research has resulted in three textbooks including "Forensic Psychophysiology Using the Polygraph," an 800-page tome still used in classrooms around the world, including Russia.

The book's strength lies in its comprehensive coverage of both theoretical foundations and practical applications. However, some critics have noted that certain techniques described, particularly the proprietary methods, require extensive specialized training to implement effectively. Although there is debate in the polygraph world about some of Matte's theories, the book was well organized and helped a lot during polygraph training courses. The presentation can be dense for newcomers to the field, though this thoroughness is precisely what makes it invaluable as a professional reference.

Attorneys, judges, police personnel, probation and parole officers, forensic psychophysiologists, defendants, litigants, and others involved in the criminal justice system will find this book singularly comprehensive, authoritative and helpful in understanding and/or utilizing the various polygraph techniques and instruments described therein.

Key Takeaways

• Master the foundational Backster Zone Comparison Technique principles that underpin modern polygraph science
• Understand the four-track system of the Matte Quadri-Track ZCT, including primary, secondary, inside, and outside tracks
• Learn to identify and counter sophisticated countermeasures used by deceptive examinees
• Apply proper numerical scoring methodologies for objective chart analysis and decision-making
• Recognize physiological indicators across cardiovascular, respiratory, and electrodermal response channels
• Implement quality control procedures to maintain professional standards and legal admissibility
• Understand the psychological factors that influence examinee responses during testing
• Master pretest interview techniques that enhance examination accuracy and reduce inconclusive results
• Develop expertise in post-test interrogation methods for obtaining admissions and confessions
• Apply scientific validation principles to evaluate and improve polygraph techniques

What’s Inside

Who Should Read This

This comprehensive textbook serves multiple professional audiences within the criminal justice and security sectors. Polygraph examiners will find this their essential reference manual, providing both foundational theory and advanced techniques necessary for professional practice. The detailed coverage of the Matte Quadri-Track Zone Comparison Technique alone justifies ownership, as this validated method has demonstrated superior accuracy rates in field applications. Practicing examiners benefit from the extensive countermeasures section and quality control protocols that ensure reliable results. Attorneys, both defense and prosecution, gain critical insights into polygraph science that inform case strategy and expert witness examination. The book's comprehensive legal appendices and discussion of admissibility standards provide practical guidance for courtroom applications. Understanding the scientific basis of polygraph techniques enables attorneys to effectively cross-examine polygraph experts and evaluate the reliability of test results in their cases. Law enforcement investigators and security professionals will appreciate the practical applications and real-world case studies throughout the text. The chapters on pretest interviews and post-test interrogation techniques provide valuable tools for obtaining truthful information and confessions. Federal agencies, military investigators, and corporate security departments rely on these methods for personnel screening and criminal investigations. Researchers and academics studying forensic psychology, criminology, or psychophysiology will find the extensive bibliography and scientific validation studies invaluable. The book's rigorous approach to empirical validation sets the standard for evidence-based polygraph research and provides a foundation for future scientific advancement in the field.

About the Author

James Allan Matte is a former Special Agent of the Office of Special Investigations (OSI), USAF, and a retired Special Agent of the U.S. Army Criminal Investigations Division (CID) Command. Born on March 10, 1931 in Brooklyn, he earned a Bachelor of Science in Criminalistics from State University of New York, Buffalo in 1976, and a Master of Science in Criminal Justice and Polygraph Sciences from Columbia Pacific University in 1987. He received the US Army Commendation Medal from the CID in 1970 for solving cases that would otherwise have gone unsolved.

He is the author of three textbooks and two supplements on forensic psychophysiology using the Polygraph, plus numerous published research studies and articles pertaining to forensic psychophysiology of which he is an international recognized expert. Matte is also the recipient of the prestigious John E. Reid Memorial Award for Distinguished Achievements in Polygraph Research, Teaching or Writing awarded by the American Polygraph Association. Matte is the American Editor of the International Society of Polygraph Examiners and a full member of the American Polygraph Association.

He is also the Honorary President of the British Polygraph Association, Honorary member of the Pennsylvania Polygraph Association, a member of the Society for Psychophysiological Research, the Society for Psychological Science, the American Society for Testing and Materials, and the Authors Guild. He is also the American editor for the International Society of Polygraph Examiners and a member of several professional associations in polygraphy. Matte recently received Empire State University's Veteran Service Award, an alumni award that recognizes a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces who has made a positive impact on their community, university, and/or fellow veterans.

Publication History

The original edition was published by J.A.M. Publications in Williamsville, New York, with 773 pages. A subsequent edition was published by J.A.M. Publications as a 1st edition in June 1998. The book has also been made available on CD-ROM format which works with all platforms (PC, MAC and UNIX) and with most operating systems. A 194-page Supplement 2002-2012 was published to bring the original 800-page 1996 textbook up-to-date with color illustrations and translation of the Quadri-Track Zone comparison Technique format into 14 languages. The book has been translated and used internationally, with training programs conducted in Bulgaria, Thailand, and other countries. The supplements ensure the core textbook remains current with evolving polygraph science and international applications.

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