Wonder Woman and The Lie Detector

One of my favorite parts of doing historical research on inventions is stumbling across connections that are completely surprising. You may know that Hedy Lamarr invented a key part of the technology that makes wifi, GPS and cell phone technology work, but did you know that Zeppo Marx invented the first moist heating pad, a clamp that is still used in the space program AND the first wristwatch that could measure a person’s pulse? So one day, when I was researching the history of Wonder Woman for an article I intended to write, I accidentaly discovered there was an amazing connection between the creation of both Wonder Woman and the Lie Detector! 

Through a very happy coincidence, I met Jarett Miller. My friend is an expert on the history of movies and comic books, an accomplished drummer and one of the nicest people you could know!, In addition, Jarett is a multi talented writer. He has not only worked as an author on the modern Wonder Woman comics, but also contributed to the script of the smash hit Wonder Woman movie!

I asked him if he could share with us the history of Wonder Woman and The Lie Detector.

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William Moulton Marston: Creating Wonder Woman And The Lie Detector

The Systolic Blood Pressure Test was invented in 1915. The Systolic Blood Pressure Test would be incorporated into the Polygraph Test, the more modern version of the famous Lie Detector Test.

Wonder Woman was created in 1941. The fictional heroine saw her debut in October’s issue of “All-Star Comics #8” published by DC Comics. Save for four months in 1986, the comic series has never been out of print.

What do these two things have in common? They were created by the same person: William Moulton Marston. While they may seem unrelated, they actually share a couple of similarities that you may not have noticed. There is another interesting piece of both of these puzzles that are the reason both of these inventions came to be.

Marston began work on his Systolic Blood Pressure Test in 1915 while attending Harvard University, working towards the law degree he would earn in 1918. He became interested in the idea that the difference in a person’s blood pressure may determine their mood when he noted his wife Elizabeth as saying “Whenever I get mad or excited, my blood pressure seemed to climb” (Lamb, 2001). The Systolic Blood Pressure Test was invented with the hope that the spikes in a person’s blood pressure could deduce whether said person was lying when asked a series of questions. Marston would attempt to interest government agencies with his newfound technology with the claim it could be used to effectively interrogate prisoners of war. While the merits and effectiveness of the polygraph machine are still contested today as much as they were at the time of its invention, the machine still finds its uses amongst law enforcement agencies and government facilities as a part of entrance examinations

Marston created Wonder Woman for DC Comics in 1941. Her first appearance was in “All-Star Comics #8” which was released in October of 1941. He was asked to write for DC Comics by publisher Max Gaines after Marston had given an interview in Family Circle Magazine in which he stated that the potential for the comic book medium had not yet been maximized. Gaines asked Marston to be a consultant and Marston had an interest in creating his own superhero. Marston wanted to create a character that rather than fighting with fists and weapons, his character would fight injustice with love and compassion. It was at the suggestion of his wife Elizabeth that he make the character a woman.

A staunch feminist, Marston modeled his creation after his wife and Olive Byrne, a second woman who William and Elizabeth were in a polyamorous relationship with.

Marston gave his heroine bullet-deflecting bracelets and the Lasso of Truth, a golden rope that when wrapped in it, compelled Wonder Woman’s enemies to tell the truth. Under the pseudonym Charles Moulton, Marston wrote stories of Wonder Woman traveling from her home with the Amazons, a race of warrior woman, to America to help the Allied forces win World War 2.

William Moulton Marston was an incredibly smart, complex individual. Through his work in both psychology and storytelling, he maintains a legacy of progressivism and continues to have an impact on the world today.

Written by Jarett Miller

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I found it powerful that although Wonder Woman is a warrior, one of her greatest attributes is her power to compel the truth. Knowing that the creation of her Golden Lasso is connected to the development of the lie detector fascinated me. Metaphorically, it suggested to me that truth is one of the most powerful weapons making has. On a practical level, could you imagine what it would mean to Presidential debates and court cases if the Golden Lasso was real?

A Different Concept For A Superhero

During my research, I became interested why Wonder Woman became the most famous female super hero. I asked Ethan Sacks, comic book writer and freelance journalist. He said:

Wonder Woman came to the world of mortals ahead of her time — and not just because her origins are steeped in Ancient Greek mythology. The character may have been created by a man, William Moulton Marston, in 1941, for an industry that catered for much of her existence to boys, but she’s lasted this long because she’s been an inspiration to generations of girls. Even if her costume was designed for the male gaze, she was the one one saving her man (Steve Trevor) from danger. It’s not a coincidence that “Wonder Woman” was the first big hit for the DC Cinematic Universe: Part of the appeal is that the hero stands on her own and has her own backstory, with all due respect to the Supergirls, Batwomen and She-Hulks of the medium whose origins are offshoots of their male counterparts. Credit some of the success to the non-credited input of Marston’s wife, Elizabeth, and mistress, Olive Byrne. Sure, she was “beautiful as Aphrodite,” but what is even more impressive is that she was “as wise as Athena, swifter than Hermes and stronger than Hercules.”

A Unique World View

It isn’t just truth, but the values of love, peace, and justice that Wonder Woman seeks. Again, these themes clearly grew out of William Marston’s world view

Lara Preston Duffin (aka entrepreneur Lara Carter,) is a brilliant costume designer. She not only creates beautiful Wonder Woman outfits, but dresses up as the super heroine to visit children’s hospitals. Obviously, Ms. Carter’s heart is as golden as the Lasso Of Truth.

When I asked Ms. Carter: “What qualities of Wonder Woman motivated you to do your charitable work,” her heartfelt response inspired me. And I think that was William Marston’s point!

Wonder Woman is a trained warrior but she is also a diplomat for peace. Whenever possible she will always try to negotiate with love rather then force with violence. This is what inspired me to do charity work dressed as Wonder Woman. To be an every day hero in my own community armed with love and peace.

Wonder Woman And The Lie Detector

Polyamorous, feminist, medical researcher, crusader for peace and the writer William Marston brought us both Wonder Woman and the lie detector. One, although flawed and not admissible in court, is used in criminal investigations. The other is a comic book and movie super heroine who seeks the truth as she fights to defend the values of peace and compassion. Both teach us the power of truth.