What's something that feels illegal to know?

TehBamski@lemmy.world to Ask Lemmy@lemmy.world – 280 points –
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The best way to invalidate a lie detector test is to not take one, because you can not be forced to take one unless you are applying for a job to the CIA.

Phrenology is more legitimate than polygraphs, and Prenology is nothing but bunk hokum.

I had clients in federal probation whose freedom was dependent on the results of annual polygraphs. Refusal was considered a fail, and they'd be shipped back to FedMed or prison. Inconclusive results were also blamed on the clients, and would count as a failed test.

Was total bullshit, especially given the level of function and serious psychiatric symptoms and diagnoses of my clients.

Oh, right.

For one blissful moment I forgot that America was a festering, infected pustule on the ass of society.

A polygraph, often incorrectly referred to as a lie detector test, is a junk science device or procedure that measures and records several physiological indicators … there are no specific physiological reactions associated with lying.

Lead of Wikipedia article

I argued with the PO and complained to my team about it all the time. Polygraphs are definitely junk science and absolutely should not determine someone's freedom.

The only functional use a polygraph has is as a tool of intimidation and coercion to people who are uninformed about the true nature of the device and how the handler can manipulate the results.

Which is why daytime TV shows like Dr.Phil looooooooooooved polygraphs.

Prenology is nothing but bunk hokum.

Modern IQ testing is often compared to phrenology. In the revised version of "the Mismeasure of Man" (a history of pseudosciences used to measure humans, and why IQ is among them) the author explained that the comparison was unfair... to phrenology.

While the methodology of phrenology is bunk, Gould explained, it's theory is sound. Phrenology supposed that their were different locuses in the brain, each responsible for differing functions and that intelligence, behavior, and consciousness was the sum and synergy of these differing regions. This is still more or less the modern understanding of neuroscience. IQ meanwhile fails in methodology and theory.