THE CYBERNETICS OF LYING

Abstract

In this paper the author discusses the rather subtle and unquestionably fascinating cybernetics involved in the psychophysiology of human deception and its detection by the now sophisticated psychobiofeedback techniques of the polygraph; this was first developed by Leonarde Keeler, then improved further by John Reid, and finally made into a reliable technique by Cleve Backster, with an interpretative and numerical scoring system lending itself to the next development, now being addressed by the present writer: computerized chart‐marking with print‐out interpretation. “Polygraph” means “multiple record” and the 1921 original had two (heart and breath) in response to induced emotional change. Earlier (some in 19th century) devices using one parameter only were not polygraphs and did not use induced affect.

Citation

MUSÈS, C. (1977), "THE CYBERNETICS OF LYING", Kybernetes, Vol. 6 No. 4, pp. 273-276. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb005460