Polygraph Glossary Practice

William Moulton Marston

Also known as — 1893–1947

Definition

An American psychologist credited with developing the systolic blood pressure deception test, a precursor to the modern polygraph. His work on blood pressure changes during questioning was presented in the landmark Frye v. United States case (1923). Marston also created the comic character Wonder Woman, whose Lasso of Truth was inspired by his lie detection work. His wife Elizabeth Marston and assistant Olive Richard contributed significantly to the research.

What Is William Moulton Marston?

William Moulton Marston (1893–1947) is a polygraph professional practice term. An American psychologist credited with developing the systolic blood pressure deception test, a precursor to the modern polygraph. His work on blood pressure changes during questioning was presented in the landmark Frye v. United States case (1923). Marston also created the comic character Wonder Woman, whose Lasso of Truth was inspired by his lie detection work. His wife Elizabeth Marston and assistant Olive Richard contributed significantly to the research.

Importance in Polygraph Practice

Professional polygraph practice encompasses the entire examination process — from initial client contact and case assessment through pre-test interview, informed consent, suitability screening, chart collection, data analysis, post-test interview, and report writing. Each phase is governed by APA Standards of Practice designed to ensure examination quality, ethical conduct, and reliable outcomes.

Adherence to professional standards is what distinguishes a legitimate polygraph examination from informal or unscientific approaches to lie detection. The APA Code of Ethics provides additional ethical guidance covering examiner competence, confidentiality, conflicts of interest, and examinee rights.

Professional Development

Polygraph examiners must complete initial training at an APA-accredited school (minimum 400 hours), followed by supervised field experience, and maintain ongoing continuing education (30 hours every two years). Many jurisdictions also require state licensure. These requirements ensure that practitioners remain current with evolving science, techniques, and professional standards.

Related Terms

Understanding William Moulton Marston in context requires familiarity with several related polygraph concepts:

Key Takeaways

William Moulton Marston is an important concept within the field of Psychophysiological Detection of Deception. Whether you are a polygraph examiner, student at an APA-accredited training program, legal professional evaluating polygraph evidence, or a private individual preparing for a lie detector test, understanding this term and its relationship to other polygraph concepts will help you navigate the field with greater confidence and knowledge.

The science of polygraph testing has evolved significantly over more than 100 years, from the early work of William Moulton Marston and Leonarde Keeler to today's digital instruments and validated scoring algorithms. Every term in this glossary represents a piece of that scientific and professional heritage. For a comprehensive overview, visit the Polygraph Examiner Hub or use our examiner selection guide to find a professional examiner near you.

Cross-references

More practice terms in this glossary

control question Control question is a superseded term now replaced by Comparison Question. The name \"control\" traced back to the 19... Statement Verification Test A polygraph format where the examinee prepares a written statement containing their account of the facts. The polygra... pertinent question Pertinent question is a rarely used term for Relevant Question. stabile Stabile means resistant to change — the opposite of labile. Stabile PDD tracings show minimal spontaneous activity an... Benussi, Vittorio Vittorio Benussi (1878–1927) was one of the earliest researchers to examine breathing tracings for detecting deceptio... false key A false key is a deliberately placed distracter item in a Known-Solution Peak of Tension test. The examiner hints it ...

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