The Lie Behind the Lie Detector

Our Expert Review

The Lie Behind the Lie Detector exposes polygraph waste, fraud, and abuse through a comprehensive and well-researched critique that serves as an essential resource for anyone interested in understanding the scientific limitations of polygraph technology. As professionals in the polygraph examination field, we recognize the importance of engaging with serious academic criticism, and this work by George W. Maschke, a former U.S. Army interrogator and reserve intelligence officer with a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from UCLA, and Gino J. Scalabrini presents a thorough challenge to the field that demands attention.

The book's strength lies in its methodical approach to deconstructing polygraph practice. Chapter One covers the validity of polygraph testing, arguing that polygraphy can have no scientific validity because it is not a scientific procedure. The authors support their arguments with extensive citations to government documents and academic research, including the National Academy of Sciences report that questioned polygraph reliability. Chapter Two discusses polygraph policy, with special emphasis on the Aldrich H. Ames espionage case and the false positive problem in polygraph security screening, providing compelling case studies of polygraph failures in high-stakes situations.

Chapter Three exposes the trickery on which polygraph testing depends, while Chapter Four provides detailed instructions on how to use polygraph countermeasures to protect yourself against becoming a false positive. The countermeasures section is particularly controversial within our industry, as it reveals techniques that can potentially undermine examination validity. However, from a professional standpoint, understanding these methods is crucial for examiners who want to improve their practice and address potential vulnerabilities.

While we may disagree with the authors' fundamental premise that polygraph testing lacks all validity, their arguments about standardization issues and the psychology of the examination process raise important points. The book characterizes polygraph testing as "an unstandardizable procedure that is fundamentally dependent on trickery" and argues "it can have no scientific validity", which represents one extreme of the academic debate surrounding polygraph technology.

The work's limitation is its advocacy approach - it was written explicitly to oppose polygraph use rather than to provide balanced scientific analysis. This creates a one-sided perspective that, while thoroughly researched, doesn't fully engage with the substantial body of research supporting polygraph validity under proper conditions. Additionally, Chapter Five's focus on grievance procedures reveals the authors' primary concern with individual rights rather than truth detection, which colors their interpretation of the evidence.

Key Takeaways

• Polygraph testing lacks standardization across examiners and situations, making scientific validation impossible
• The Control Question Test (CQT) depends on psychological manipulation rather than physiological lie detection
• Government agencies continue using polygraphs despite knowing about high false positive rates
• The Aldrich Ames case demonstrated that polygraphs can be easily beaten by trained individuals
• Base rate problems in security screening mean most positive results are likely false positives
• Physical countermeasures can be used to manipulate polygraph results without examiner detection
• Mental countermeasures involving emotional control can also affect test outcomes
• The National Academy of Sciences found insufficient evidence for polygraph validity in security screening
• Legal recourse exists for those wrongly accused based on polygraph results
• Pre-test psychological conditioning is designed to increase subject compliance rather than accuracy

What’s Inside

Who Should Read This

Polygraph examiners should read this book to understand the strongest academic arguments against their profession and to identify potential vulnerabilities in their testing procedures. The detailed countermeasures chapter reveals techniques that subjects might use, helping examiners develop better detection methods and improve their practice protocols. Understanding these criticisms can make examiners more effective by addressing valid concerns about standardization and procedure. Attorneys representing clients facing polygraph examinations will find invaluable legal ammunition in the extensive documentation of scientific challenges to polygraph validity. The book provides detailed citations to government reports and academic studies that can be used in court proceedings, particularly in jurisdictions where polygraph admissibility is contested. The grievance procedures chapter offers practical guidance for legal challenges. Academic researchers studying deception detection, forensic psychology, or security screening will appreciate the comprehensive literature review and methodological critiques. The book serves as a counterpoint to pro-polygraph research and highlights important questions about standardization, base rates, and validity that deserve continued investigation. General readers facing potential polygraph examinations, whether for employment or criminal justice purposes, will gain crucial understanding of how these tests actually work versus popular misconceptions. The book demystifies the psychological aspects of polygraph examinations and provides practical information about rights and procedures, though readers should consider legal implications of countermeasure use.

About the Authors

George W. Maschke is a former U.S. Army interrogator and reserve intelligence officer with a Ph.D. in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Born and raised in Long Island, New York, he graduated from Westhampton Beach High School, joined the U.S. Army for a four-year enlistment, then studied at UCLA where he received his bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees in Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and currently lives in The Hague, Netherlands, working as a legal translator. Maschke became a co-founder of AntiPolygraph.org and an author and activist against the use of lie detectors after wrongly failing a polygraph to get into the FBI. He is also a captain in the United States Army Reserve and co-founded AntiPolygraph.org, a non-profit website and grassroots network committed to polygraph reform, specifically seeking amendment of the 1988 Employee Polygraph Protection Act to provide protection for all Americans.

Gino J. Scalabrini co-founded AntiPolygraph.org with Maschke and runs the website. While less biographical information is publicly available about Scalabrini compared to his co-author, he has been instrumental in the organization's mission to expose and end waste, fraud, and abuse associated with the use of polygraphs and other purported lie detectors. Together, the authors have maintained AntiPolygraph.org as a free information resource that does not accept advertising or solicit donations, with operating costs paid out of pocket.

Publication History

The Lie Behind the Lie Detector has evolved through multiple editions since its original publication. An earlier version was archived by the Internet Archive on February 8, 2016, indicating the book has been available for nearly a decade. The current fifth edition represents the most recent update, with the paperback version published on November 11, 2018 according to Amazon listings. The book is simultaneously available in multiple formats: free PDF, EPUB, and MOBI (Amazon Kindle) formats directly from AntiPolygraph.org, as well as a 232-page paperback edition sold through Amazon at cost. The PDF version is formatted for double-sided printing, and starting with the 5th edition, EPUB and MOBI versions suitable for mobile devices became available. The authors have consistently maintained their policy of not writing the book to make money and making it available at the lowest possible price.

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