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23rd Jul 2018

Why the Love Island lie detector test could actually be total bullshit

Not an exact science folks

Rebecca O'Keeffe

Not an exact science folks

So tonight we were faced with a pretty big deal in the Love Island villa.

The lads were asked questions, while hooked up to a lie detector.

You know those machines that react to your heart rate to catch you out on a lie?

Well, I’m here to tell you to take it all with a pinch of salt, because it is not an exact science.

Lie detectors , also known as polygraph tests, are designed to be capable of detecting deception through “analysis of physiological responses to a structured, but unstandardised, series of questions,” according to the American Psychological Association.

By monitoring a person’s heart rate, blood pressure, respiration, and skin conductivity, the instrument can (in theory) determine whether the a human is telling a lie.

It is assumed that lying causes stress, hence the reaction of the polygraph.

But what if you are being filmed for television while taking the test?

Or what if someone you’re dating is sitting there, watching you answer questions about them?

Surely that would result in a level of stress that may result in a test fail.

Hence why we should be skeptical of the test. Or, for no other reason, than that the entire thing is likely fabricated by a production company hungry for the advertising budget of assorted plastic surgery companies.

Topics:

Love Island