| rdfs:comment
| - The common term "truth serum" refers to any number of sedative/hypnotic drugs which are used to induce honesty in a subject. In fact, truthfulness is not guaranteed by the use of such drugs; while a person under the influence of a truth serum may become talkative, or may experience reduced inhibitions or even hallucinogenic fantasies, they are still quite capable of lying. For this reason, and the obvious human and civil rights issues (which are similar to those regarding torture), any statements obtained in this manner are inadmissible in court. Or, they're really disgusting concoctions used in crossing the line ceremonies. The best that modern pharmacology can come up with is amobarbital (better known as sodium amytal) and is not all that useful at all.
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| abstract
| - The common term "truth serum" refers to any number of sedative/hypnotic drugs which are used to induce honesty in a subject. In fact, truthfulness is not guaranteed by the use of such drugs; while a person under the influence of a truth serum may become talkative, or may experience reduced inhibitions or even hallucinogenic fantasies, they are still quite capable of lying. For this reason, and the obvious human and civil rights issues (which are similar to those regarding torture), any statements obtained in this manner are inadmissible in court. Or, they're really disgusting concoctions used in crossing the line ceremonies. The best that modern pharmacology can come up with is amobarbital (better known as sodium amytal) and is not all that useful at all. Ah, but don't tell Hollywood that... In movies and television, truth serums of all forms (be they actual drugs, spells or whatever) behave quite predictably, and will invariably have one or more of the following effects on the subject: 1.
* A person becomes incapable of lying, though still fully conscious and otherwise able. 2.
* In many cases, the subject seems compelled to not only tell the truth, but to talk, period. Simply shutting up and not speaking, which isn't a lie, never occurs to them -- or, if they do try to shut up, they are physically unable to do so. 3.
* As well, they have a tendency to go into far more detail than is necessary, when short, curt responses that aren't lies could still keep the secret. Compare I'll Never Tell You What I'm Telling You. 4.
* Occasionally, they will be unable to lie, but quite able to be creative in telling the truth From a Certain Point of View. 5.
* A victim of fictional Truth Serum almost always gives complete and accurate information, even though in Real Life, people who think they're telling the truth are often wrong. If the trope-generator is positioned more towards the "Science Fiction" end of the scale, invariably the injectee will start babbling about the Killer Rabbit / Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot / Little Green Men, and be instantly dismissed as crazy or, at best, programmed to spout gibberish under interrogation. While the body of this entry deals mainly with traditional truth serums, in fiction there are actually many methods of getting the truth out of someone besides drugs. These, due to being Applied Phlebotinum, can be excused for behaving as described herein. Sometimes. Maybe. For the more historically tried and true method of extracting information by getting the victim completely sloshed on cheap booze, see In Vino Veritas. May overlap with I'll Never Tell You What I'm Telling You Examples of Truth Serums include:
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