The Lie Detector | AMERICAN EXPERIENCE | PBS | Trailer

Summary

The transcript discusses the historical evolution and public perception of lie detection technology, highlighting attempts to use science to uncover truth in criminal investigations. Key subjects include early inventors like John Larson and Leonarde Keeler, the concept of a "psychological wedge," and the eventual realization that the polygraph is a "blunt instrument" prone to interpretation, despite its popular portrayal as infallible. Ultimately, the takeaway is that media influence has created an enduring, often inaccurate, public belief in the absolute certainty of lie detection.