Bill Cosby Case: Is A Polygraph Test Appropriate?

              Currently, Bill Cosby is being accused of raping about 40 women. Women like Janice Dickinson, a victim in this case, say, “’Put a lie detector test on Bill Cosby’” (Janice Dickinson). However, can we rely on polygraph testing? Based on the book, Scientific Perspectives on Pseudoscience and the Paranormal: Readings for General Psychology by Timothy J. Lawson, scientists do not believe polygraph testing is valid. On the contrary, they also think the test could work as a “psychological manipulation,” acting as a psychological placebo (Lawson, T.J.). On social media, it’s been said that Cosby doesn’t want to take a lie detector test. Why wouldn’t he want to?

In my opinion, I think a lie detector test could be valid, depending on the person. For example, if someone doesn’t feel guilty about committing a crime, he can easily lie and pass the test. After all, polygraph instruments measure and record breathing, cardiovascular activity, and palmar sweating (Lawson, T.J.). In cases like Bill Cosby, maybe he doesn’t want to take the test because he does feel guilty, and maybe he believes they are valid, so there’s no way he could pass it.

In the end though, who knows. A lot of these women could also be lying by accusing Cosby of raping them just to get money. For the assumption of women making it up, Janice Dickinson offered to take a lie detector test. However, if she is making the story up, she can easily pass the test. So what are your thoughts on this? Do you think a polygraph test is appropriate for Bill Cosby or the victims in this case? Here are some videos that went along with the article I read about Janice Dickinson: