A Tremor In The Blood [Hardcover]

David T. Lykken (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 21, 1998

The author presents case histories of persons whose lives have been blighted by our uniquely American faith in the myth of the lie detector. Dr. Lykken also explains how to "beat" the machine, not only because it is unfair that spies and Mafia soldiers already know these techniques, but also because innocent persons have nearly a 50:50 chance of failing lie detector tests unless they use appropriate countermeasures. Many state courts in the U.S. still admit lie detector tests into evidence under certain conditions - a practice that ensures the conviction of more innocent people every year. Finally, Dr. Lykken reports on the results of recent surveys of informed scientific opinion about lie detection and presents another method of polygraphic interrogation that is designed to detect, not lies, but the presence of guilty knowledge. This method is scientifically credible and holds promise for future use in criminal investigation.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Lykken, a well-known polygraph expert, dismantles many myths of lie detector tests and practices and allows us to evaluate assumptions surrounding these tests, which measure variations in an individual's emotional stress. Seventeen years after the book's first edition (LJ 10/1/80), he offers a work to reflect substantial changes in truth detection technology during that period, tracing the historical and scientific background of lie detection based on different polygraph tests. Lykken critically examines many tools designed to verify the truth and finds no specific response in the scientific literature. He offers his own Guilty Knowledge Test (GKT) as based on sounder psychological principles than the dominant polygraph Control Question Test (CQT). Lykken argues that GKT has an ability to detect both guilt and innocence. Individuals interested in legal and criminal matters and social and psychological testing will welcome this book. Recommended for public libraries.?Steven Puro, St. Louis Univ.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 333 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books; 2 Sub edition (March 21, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0306457822
• ISBN-13: 978-0306457821
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,228,623 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nails in the Coffn of the Polygraph Myth, January 31, 2003

By 

John E. Hocking, Ph.D. (Athens, GA, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Tremor In The Blood (Hardcover)

The word science has been associated with all sorts of hogwash and chicanery, none more harmful than the myth that there is a machine that will reliably detect lying. I know of no better example of [pseudo] science than the continued use of the polygraph.

As I write in my book, "Communication Research" (2003; p 411; Allyn & Bacon), "[Lykken's] book should receive a Pulitzer prize. It is must reading for anyone who has an association with lie detectors or polygraphs ...or for anyone who would like to go on an intellectual joy ride while swooping to an understanding of how an entire society can be duped by pseudo "science." Lyken reviews virtually all known research about lie detection with brilliant scientific rigor. He concludes [as does the National Academy of Sciences in a recently published independent report] that there exists no credible empirical evidence"... for the test's validity (Hocking et. al.; 2003; p 411; Allyn & Bacon).

I challenge anyone to read Lykken's review of polygraph research and disagree with his conclusion that "it is madness for courts or federal police or security agencies to rely on polygraph results" or that the mythology surrounding the test is a deeply entrenched mythology similar to children believing in Santa Claus or the Easter Bunny (p 279 - Lyyken).

Lykken's book is written with the rigor and documentation of a first rate college text, yet is fascinating and readable. It is an important work, one of the best and most valuable books I have read in 30 years of teaching social research methodologoly at the university level.

Five stars are not enough to do Professor Lyyken's work justice.

24 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally a book that brakes the legend of the polygraph, August 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: A Tremor In The Blood (Hardcover)

Having been accused of a crime I didn't commit just because I failed a lie detector test, it was a big reveal for me to see that some people do believe that the polygraph test is bogus. Dr Lykken's book proves that with a polygraph test everything can happen : an innoscent person can look guilty, and a guilty person can look innoscent. The machine doesn't show you if you lie, it only shows you if you are nervous. Through several cases, the book shows you how Americans have had a blind believe it the device, ever since it was invented and how innoscent people have been sent to jail because of it (but they have been released later, when REAL evidence was found). I recomment everybody to read this very informative book.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The REAL truth behind the polygraph, September 5, 2005

By 

David Liu (Diamond Bar, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Tremor In The Blood (Hardcover)

I feel very strongly about this book because not too long ago a relative of mine was accused of a crime they didn't commit and was coerced by the local police dept into taking one of these tests. Fortunately, we were able to come up with many resources (including this book) to dispute the validity of the polygraph in court. Lykken's book isn't perfect by any means but it's one of the few honest books out there that explain how the mysterious polygraph works and the byzantine government reasoning behind using it. This is a book that the government definitely doesn't want you to read because it would invalidate one of their most effective "witch hunt" interrogation techniques.