Lessons Learned by John M. Duffey

Author:John M. Duffey [Duffey, John M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Religion, General, Christian Theology, Angelology & Demonology, Exorcism, Demonology & Satanism, Demoniac Possession
ISBN: 9781621890218
Publisher: Wipf and Stock Publishers
Published: 2014-01-27T00:00:00+00:00

8.5 Polygraph Interview of Subject and Witnesses

The use of a polygraph to assess the honesty, or presence of deception, in a person has been controversial for many years. Even its use in criminal investigations and trials has been contested hotly. Some have claimed that the assessment tool can be purposefully fooled while others have maintained that it is foolproof. Other arguments contest its accuracy entirely. But, for the evaluator of suspected demonic possession or molestation it can be a very useful tool, indeed.

In cases of very deep psychosis or delusional thinking, there is a possibility that the person will show no signs of deception when questioned about his or her allegedly demonic experiences. However, these are exceptionally rare occasions and should not be a reason for excluding the use of a polygraph examination during the investigatory process. If deception is detected, then the possibility of fraud or conscious construction of information is very high. If a person shows no signs of deception but other information indicates, beyond a doubt, that the person is not being truthful or congruous with reality, then the nondeceptive results serve to verify psychosis of a deeply rooted level.

Witnesses to suspected demonic activity should also undergo a polygraph examination in order to determine if there are any points of deception regarding their statements. This is important, as some people will pretend to experience things out of sympathy for the subject or to assist in the furtherance of a complex fraud effort. It is important to eliminate fraud and verify the credibility of the witness statements regarding events relevant to the suspected demonic possession.

It is best if the polygraph examination is given by a certified and experienced polygrapher. This will assure accuracy in the results and render solid credibility to the examination as evidence in and of itself. There is nothing that says that the investigator, if certified, is prohibited from conducting such examinations. Being certified as a polygrapher and using one’s own equipment can significantly reduce the cost and time consumption of this investigatory step.

Another important point regarding the use of a polygraph is that the rules of evidence and case law applied in criminal investigations and subsequent trials are absolutely inapplicable in cases of suspected demonic activity. They are, by all accounts, in two entirely different worlds. Thus, a denial to participate in a polygraph examination by a witness certainly can, and should, be taken as a sign of deceptive guilt on the part of that witness. Any statements made by the witness that cannot otherwise be verified as true or accurate must be considered less than credible or even false by the investigator.

In many criminal investigations, the police will ask a witness or suspect if he or she is willing to take a polygraph examination strictly to observe the reaction to the suggestion. The witness may have absolutely no intention of actually performing the examination. But, the person’s reaction to the suggestion can tell an investigator a lot regarding the credibility of the witness and his or her statements.

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