Why can polygraphs (lie detectors) be used in court?
You are incorrect that they can’t be used in court. If the proper foundation is laid for the qualifications of the administrator and the the questions asked, they can be used in court in my state. You cannot get a conviction only on the results of a lie detector test, but they are not completely excluded from court in every state. The better part of your question is why are they not reliable? If you have training, you can pass the test. Look, as an opposite example, at the ability of individuals trained in meditation to control body responses. If you have sociopathic or psychopathic personality traits, lying elicits no physical response. There is no comparison to the result of a “chat show” and a court case.
