1. Arousal

2. Aims
• Define the term Arousal
• Explain the physiological systems
involved in arousal (fight-flight
response)
• Evaluate the uses and limitations of the
polygraph

3. Arousal
• What do you think of when you hear the
word Arousal?

4. Among
other
things

5. Event
Among
other
things

6. Event
Among
other
things

7. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Among
other
things

8. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Among
other
things

9. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Among
other
things

10. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Among
other
things

11. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Among
other
things

12. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Among
other
things
My lead to......

13. Event
Arousal - An organism's overall
state of alertness and readiness
for action
Sympathetic
Nervous System
Among
other
things
My lead to......

14. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight

15. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight
The ANS (sympathetic NS) prepares us for quick action.
We must make a choice

16. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight
The ANS (sympathetic NS) prepares us for quick action.
We must make a choice

17. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight
The ANS (sympathetic NS) prepares us for quick action.
We must make a choice

18. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight
The ANS (sympathetic NS) prepares us for quick action.
We must make a choice

19. Physical Threat
Fight or Flight
The ANS (sympathetic NS) prepares us for quick action.
We must make a choice

20. Psychological Threat
Fear of Failure
This triggers a physiological arousal
brought about by activation of the
sympathetic nervous system

21. • Think of a time when you were confronted
with psychological and physical threat.
• How did your body react?
• Did you have conscious control over your
body?

22. Measuring Arousal
It is possible to measure physiological changes associated with
arousal.
The most common divice for measuring physiological changes
is the polygraph. This device records changes in:
• Heart rate
• Blood pressure
• Breathing rate
• Electrical conductivity of the skin called galvanic skin
response (GSR), this reflects sweat gland activity

23. Lie detection
As a general measure of arousal the polygraph
is often used as a lie detector. Its success
depends on one big assumption.
Assumption
It is assumed that lying produces and increase
in arousal.

24. Using the polygraph for
lie detection
When using a polygraph a person is asked two types of
questions.
Control Questions
Are used to establish a baseline physiological response. Some
questions are routine and ‘non-emotional’ what is your name?
Others are intended to increase your arousal slightly for
example ‘Have you ever stolen from your employer?’
Relevant Questions
Are those that relate to the reason for the test.

25. • The individual’s pattern of physiological
responses to control questions is compared
with their pattern of physiological responses
to relevant questions.

26. USING YOUR BUM TO BEAT
THE LIE DETECTOR

27. USING YOUR BUM TO BEAT
THE LIE DETECTOR