ABSTRACT
My interest in using psychophysiology to illuminate intergroup processes began long before entering graduate school. During my undergraduate days, I was on a path toward applied statistics, with an interest in applying quantitative models to understanding human behavior, specifically criminal behavior. This interest led me to seek an intern position with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), crime analysis division. The position required exposure to high-level security information, and as a result required a fairly extensive background check. As part of my pre-employment screening, I had to complete an interview during which my autonomic nervous system (ANS) responses were monitored—more commonly known as a “polygraph test.” Of course, polygraph simply means multiple graphs, but people often (and incorrectly) use this term synonymously with “lie-detection test.” For me, this experience cemented the idea that our mental states and bodily responses are inextricably linked, and that there are times when our neurobiological responses can expose thoughts and feelings that we would prefer people not know we have. The story of my “polygraph” experience illustrates some critical psychophysiological principles that I will review later in this chapter.
