POSSIBLE FALLIBILITY OF POLYGRAPH TESTING OF SUBJECTS IN POSTHYPNOTIC STATES

• Document Type: SPECIALCOLLECTION
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 00146220
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: January 17, 2025
• Document Release Date: January 15, 1983
• Publication Date: July 7, 1955

"Gory sent 1.oSiieI, S-,r7urity Div.
h flay 191.AI Borrowed frorr
1
*Possible Fallibility of Polygraph Toeting of Subjects in Posthypnotic States
" �� � � � � "
�
A.'
�.; �
�
Q. On the basis of your knowledge of hypnologf, do you think that it would be '�
i;:,�.. possible to induce a postpypnotio state on a subject in such a way that his.re-.;:w1i1;,
'1=4-:aotiona to .polygraph testing would be significantly altered?:'.:-. :',---.-1-7%-'!..f,-.�/
My offhand opinion is that this would be quite possible. Of course it would
..
i
...*:.. :.
;....4.-1;be very simple to conduct experiments which could .definitely decide this queetion
one way or another, but on the aosumption that such experiments have not.yet.been .�
carried out, I should like to comment briefly on the possibilities to be tonsidored.
".:.U.:.!, - � . � . ' �
As I understand it, the polygraph measures unconscious physical reactions to the '
..1, -.stimuli of the mental disturbances caused by the telling of deliberate lies. e,..'' : � -'----.
-
Therefore, it would appear posaible that a subject could possibly avoid these re- .
.p4.e.rvections if he wore. interrogated vh.te*.in a posthypnotic state and.thus-eetabliehr.4.1
V".0-his innocence for 'sore incrininating acts or atsociations. This might be.done.-?'" .
4N . 41,� � . ,1,.by the inductibn orposthypnotic amnotia for the ineririnating Opitiodt6'arldrthe - � ' * '
. .
substitution of on alibi situation by the establiahment of false recollections.
In order words, the subject would be convinced that he was actually telling the truth
would not have the psychosomatic disturbances necessary for 4 polygraph, re- ..........., .
-441..-,..�
action. In addition to this, complete amnesia of the hypnotidna itself can'be ..,.
.TW.-.effected and an affective defense can be setup against rehypnotization bk another
,..... ...�.-
... hypnotist. Furthermero,'the subject's reaction to other pestione used.lin.testing'.. "
Ii :
the polygraphability of a subject would probably,�be normal a � '�� � �.'. �� :' ' ' -1 ' .7'..f.'''''''''.11
��045,'�-1!`t-
ild r: nr.; rrIfiletiLeU uylargOWW
- /4) 7 July 55.
� . , , , ,u�LNPRIPIV" -.I
A��'1, �����..... � �� * r,�!.� ������������� ,� �A� ���'����,.� ����
� ..,�� 77.
t
2. (Collector's Note: In addition to the comments reported atoves source suggested
1?�4-and supplied reference material which he felt might provide some background informa. �:.::
tion on this subject. A brief review of some of this liEerature was undertaken by , � ,,sr`,.,
--v
Jiririthe collector and the ccmmento listed below were abstracted. Although they often
lity,support source's opinions, they are by no means directly attributable to him, nor can
4.1t4,Ahe conclusions reeched be construed as bearing his endorsement. Abrief review of
.4����:recent volumes of Poycholo7ical Abotrata (Abstracta) (later Wan 1950) revealed no �
14�-.. .
articles describing eoperinents involving posthypnotic behavior in relation to the -
-Wpolygraph machine. Therefore the following cements include other references which
t:
the collector considers as possibly applicable to the problem.)
a. The Nature of the Posthypnotic AITEAI State -- In the first place, there still ,
Seems to be a Great deal of confusion about the actual nature of the posthypnotic
. ,.
..'-'i� state itself and about the scope of influence of the operator in the subject's re- . ��n��,�-�
.j. ,. actions when awake... Those questions were cited by Henry Ouse of Long Ielaed Uni7ereity4A7:
,-, -::.!
.who points out that they have plagued investigators for many years and have received. 't.:.: r
:t:Ftno clarity. in interpretation.- He goes on to�say4hatperhape.even more cor�plex�ise6-7;�,--
�---the question as to haw a subject responds to the fact that he is behaving in a way *,..'
.,*If
..e,:.which is different from .his usual behavior. (1) Ho explains that the !iposthypnotic ..
-4 ... . �
J.,If
4J:
,.�
1
Asti' : t � . ..� . � � t,_�� � �_;������.?� .
����'�L�A�10.r����44�{17;:�����,12'; ������������.' ����*�1�� � star. ��� - � .�����������,{..".,....."A,.., � � - ��������. � �� �
%.1;6.{ � , � � �� �� ��� -� . ����� � �
. .. � ��
-
�
�
� � . 4.
� .; '�40416.�
act will often have in it an aspect of remembrance as to the suggestion given in
the trance" but he adds, "Of course, some phenomena of a posthypnotic nature, such
as hallucinatory experience, may be accepted by the subject as being of unquestion-
,able authenticity." , ���
� _
b.'Hypnosis and Antisocial Conduct -- Despite an active controversy on the Reject,
� there is nudh evidence that hypnotism can induce antisocial behavior. (2) In this
connection it should be brought out that such acts can be 'accomplished in the posts;!
hypnotic state with n 7
o apparent knowledge or feeling on the part of the subject.
Several experiments have shown that such "subjects handled peculiarities in their,
posthypnotic activities by accepting them as congroue aspects of their behavior.
(3) Such "acceptance'"of the antisocial act of lying might well preclude any physi
�r*setions.Vhich would be-�speesurable-brthe Polygraph.
. , � �
-
experiments with the hypnotic and post-hypnotic production of antisocial behaviors ,
attempts are often made by experimenters to break the induced state of posthypnotic
amnesia several days after the experiMental antisocial act or acts have been,coredtted
by the eibject. The accusations brought out in these interrogations usually-arousei;*
apparently righteous indignation. or disbelief on the part of thcilguiltylverubject,
. .In one such' experiment a young female subject,had been induced under hypnosis
steal monerfrom the pocket of a stranger'e coat after awakening from her trance. -
lir� :Ir.I(h) She was given posthypnotic amnesi& for the source of the conpulsion.-.She stole �
_
- the dollarAnd:later'spent.- it. When confronted with the facts several days later
)6idiknot'believe,them. On the of her, reactions the experimenter reported .
as folltilier'"These 'detriments are included to indicate the difficulties a cross- �
examiner would meet in atterpting to wring a confession frowa criminal 'hypnotic
subject. Miss A's manner betrayed not the aubtlist evidence or consciousness of"-:frrJ�f"
7 guilt. I cannot say, of course, what might have been her reaction-to a lie-detector
'� - � or thierd-degree methoda." , � � � 4!�7-
r �,,..�-x...ri.w,u1-4�-7 � ' -.� ' . � #�.'fw- '
� �� ��
�
.!-SUbseqtently this subject was again hypnotised and her amnesia for ihd incident,.
. renoved.7"Aiss A was then 'asked whether she thought she could in hypnosis be ,�
Ilet!,rinduced to commit more serious crimes�such as to steal important government '.
:� papers were the a-secretary in Washington. She said, 4/4s, I think so.' She
held to this belief, both in the trance and normal states.
c. Training and Testing -- Incase posthypnotic compulsion were utilized in en attempt..
-� to circumvent lie detection, the necessarily complete control over the posthypnotic ' �
::�behavior of a subject mould require a period of intensive training and testing.
,f:.Subjects vary widely in the hypnotizahility. In other words, one person might show
little initial resistance to trance induction but the operator might rind that he
would show a great deal more resistance to illusion creation or to one or more of
the standard criteria for measuring the depth of hypnosis. (Such criteria include (1)
hypnotic analgesia to painful stimuli, (2) mixed olfactory hallucinationsu(3) age":%4,":.
-,.- repression control, (4) posthypnotic amnesia,,(5) ability to cary out posthypnotic
� ...--
joiztifl,aiuggestions and the rapid induction of trance through an unrelated posthypnotic
signal. (5) Aa,rax sri pointed out, "To.achieve'the best results, one met utilize
individual characteristics of each subject. (6) Through patientexperimantation..-7:7'::
!%,..1.th suggestions used to:cireumvont3he:pOints of resistance, very deep '..
_ . � �
�
� A-2,0M A-
.-?id14171'7')41:1"4"^
� s
r������
hypnosis can usually be obtained in a willing subject. It should then be possible
to predict the effects which the subject's own peculiar peTuonality and hypnotia-
ability characteristics will play in the posthypnotic state. The ultimate goal of .
,t4r,,i'',the training would be the creation of a etate of hypnotizability whereby the operator.
'Could rapidly induce a posthypnotic state in which the subject would have no MIX
el� �
1PIIconscious knowledge or memory of his incriminating activities or connections.
addition to the above goal, it would be also possible to induce in the subject
a facility for autohypnosiu. Leslie M. LeCrom of Los Angeles, stated that it is
-,4
4.)41's� difficult to hypnotize oneself at all deeply unless a post hypnotic suggestion has .
;:been given during hetero-induced hypnosis,to the effect that the person. can
$4,
&.4
: ,
-after otise himefleft.(7). . hypns ' . . . -,4: 1 c4.. .. ... .. , . � �.,. ,.. , .i. , , ,,.., .,., . . 4 41,., .,......!......,:, i ., .-* , .1.� L:' �-� 51,1:.:7):!.i..."'� ' � " - � ...A.:' 4:4 ' .17!.',1,2.:-',41..3.r474 J., ..i. ' :.: : ,:�-...'s. Y...... ',. .: ��
-.m .1., ...
-d.; Detection of Posthypnotic State by Polygraph .-- As far as polygraph detection.-- �
tAtiof the post hypnotiestate itself is concerned, this seems unlikely in the light of
,'.4i�the negative and inconolusive results of experiments conducted by True and Stephenson
w
0'4,-� �
4....�,4-which correlated electroencephalogram, pulse and planter reflexes in hypnosis with age. .
ri...fregression and induced emotional states. (8) ''
k 4:
1H6.1,..(1). Ouse, Henry. "Posthypnotic Behavior and kersonality,". Personality, Nol...1.-..;,;�:::Ai.
No. 3,.;17. 19510.Page 232.
.. . �- .. ....,.. . �,,..,�... ..., -1...4.764.1,; ar i .1. . '1,i! -0.. ,.� ,:g::�.:i'� L : 4, "0..- ri � ',..
44414 ,* :., � -� , -
1- . ;:. .. . .�� . ' .7. ' . ' . .. ' .. � .."Llt..#1- M"rlli .
''-' (2) Eetabrooks, C.R., "The Possible Antisocial Use of Hypnotism," PERSONALITY, '- �7.7:7.
714 ,t0., it,.,,:�,'V'.. VO3. � ' 1,'�' No. ' 3, . Her 1954! Fagg f 294499:�.'4tio�'27,Mite..1;;'N.1 *.���4i.,,Itt,, ,:v .::: 'I-.
.x.,,:r ":...,-..` ro,kr 11,,, � l'e.taitw 7TOWP-C!..^ ,.. 7..04 4 �.�,,,I.-i . , � . � ... .�.., ...,,,i'. � .,. -.. ,..- ,..- � i ..t4/1.3�41.0,6;Pf , 171�5��� � �rA ..4..S..� . 7 ANOPIP..���PO *X% ow � 1/ N,
1."1'....11:': - ' . �
.Vt!(....(3) Ouse, op cit page 236. . .. .
;,o!, .,.;��../
(4) Bre man, Margaret, "Experiments in the Hypnotic Production of Antisocial d7',..!1...:,t
Self-Injurioua Behavior," . PSYCHIATRY, Vol 3, No. 1, Feb 42; pp 90-51:-�.'" '..-''''-'71.i.(1rg..4 "�
t , , . . ". .
. .. .
,.
Y,, !,...y.'c(5):. True, Robert M. and Stephenson, Charles W., "Controlled Experiments Correlating'" �_,7,
,Electroencephalogram, ..Pulse and.Planter Reflexes with; Hypnotic�Age, 1te'gressiork,;ft;i.l.:-.4:
and Induced Emotional States, It -4ERSCNALITT,-Vol 1, No 3, Nov.1,...S.glo:...?,....ii::';-�:.;
..!..... � ' - ' � � . . ,� . .... . , ..
..-. � . .. � � ,
i',I.i.(6) Breman71.op cit, page 52
�..1to, . -- � , . � .���,:t � ., ,
,
PIP
�1,4
Jp2,
11.4.
, . I.
, � � �
� 't!.?
(7) LeCrom, Leslie N., "A study of the HIPNOTIZADLLITT of Hypnotists," PERSONALITY
Vol 1, No 3, Nov 51, pace 301. '
i&CIA(8). True and Stephenson, op cit pp 252.-262
� � 4 N�
4
1",���
1 �
�I;"
�''
��.� :4-34 � \."
. .
.1
� ".;
V.;
� ,..��� ���..
ttag
���\
� 3',',���
'-V
P