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The Lie Behind the Lie Detector

The dirty little secret behind the polygraph is that the "test" depends on trickery, not science. The person being "tested" is not supposed to know that while the polygraph operator declares that all questions must be answered truthfully, warning that the slightest hint of deception will be detected, he secretly assumes that denials in response to certain questions -- called "control" questions -- will be less than truthful. An example of a commonly used control question is, "Did you ever lie to get out of trouble?" The polygrapher steers the examinee into a denial by warning, for example, that anyone who would do so is the same kind of person who would commit the kind of behavior that is under investigation and then lie about it. But secretly, it is assumed that everyone has lied to get out of trouble.

The polygraph pens don't do a special dance when a person lies. The polygrapher scores the test by comparing physiological responses (breathing, blood pressure, heart, and perspiration rates) to these probable-lie control questions with reactions to relevant questions such as, "Did you ever commit an act of espionage against the United States?" (commonly asked in security screening). If the former reactions are greater, the examinee passes; if the latter are greater, he fails. If responses to both "control" and relevant questions are about the same, the result is deemed inconclusive.

The test also includes irrelevant questions such as, "Are the lights on in this room?" The polygrapher falsely explains that such questions provide a "baseline for truth," because the true answer is obvious. But in reality, they are not scored at all! They merely serve as buffers between pairs of relevant and "control" questions.

The simplistic methodology used in polygraph testing has no grounding in the scientific method: it is no more scientific than astrology or tarot cards. Government agencies value it because people who don't realize it's a fraud sometimes make damaging admissions. But as a result of reliance on this voodoo science, the truthful are often falsely branded as liars while the deceptive pass through.

Perversely, the "test" is inherently biased against the truthful, because the more honestly one answers the "control" questions, and as a consequence feels less stress when answering them, the more likely one is to fail. Conversely, liars can beat the test by covertly augmenting their physiological reactions to the "control" questions. This can be done, for example, by doing mental arithmetic, thinking exciting thoughts, altering one's breathing pattern, or simply biting the side of the tongue. Truthful persons can also use these techniques to protect themselves against the risk of a false positive outcome. Although polygraphers frequently claim they can detect such countermeasures, no polygrapher has ever demonstrated any ability to do so, and peer-reviewed research suggests that they can't.

Polygraph Countermeasure Challenge Clock On 28 January 2002, retired FBI polygraph expert Dr. Drew C. Richardson reiterated his challenge to the polygraph community to prove their claimed ability to detect countermeasures (techniques for passing -- or beating -- the polygraph). This clock figure shows the number of weeks Dr. Richardson's challenge has gone without takers. What are the polygraph operators afraid of? (Listen to a personal message from Dr. Richardson.)

385 weeks

I failed and feel humiliated
I just took a poly for a top secret clearance FBI job. When I was first told I would have to take one, I was ok with it, b/c I have nothing to hide, but then started worrying more and more since I've heard so much negative, and so went online to see what kinds of questions they would ask, etc....

John Grogan and Ralph Hilliard Reach Settlement, TruthAboutGrogan.org Taken Down
The site had included, among other things, complaints about Grogan from former customers, an article critical of his appearance in a pornographic video, and California Department of Consumer Affairs documentation of a complaint that in 2002 resulted in the revocation of Mr. Grogan's private investigator license, private patrol operator license, baton permit, and firearm permit as well as an order to pay $21,800 for the Bureau of Security and Investigative Services's investigation and prosecution costs.

Edward Bryan Van Arsdale Banned (Yet Again)
AntiPolygraph.org has reason to believe that recent posts in the message thread "Why do I have to do anything?" by David Hume (the thread starter, purporting to be a curious newcomer to this site), Kim Jong Il (questioning why David Hume was banned), and S Price (bemoaning AntiPolygraph.org's moderation policy) are all the handiwork of E.B. Van Arsdale.

DEA Special Agent Shawn Hacking Banned
The poster LieBabyCryBaby has been banned. The decision to ban him from these forums comes after a long string of abusive posting. In his own words: "I come around every now and then to ruffle your feathers and laugh at you, and then I find other entertainment." At this time, we feel it is appropriate to disclose LieBabyCryBaby's true identity: Special Agent Shawn Hacking of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), currently assigned to DEA's Seattle Division.

CIA Polygraph Operators Need to Have Their Heads Examined
Congressional Quarterly National Security editor Jeff Stein proposes that CIA polygraphers -- who "claim to be able to read the inner thoughts" of others -- should themselves "undergo regular psychiatric tests."

Has anyone heard of this type of analysis?
This involves two individuals, one the accuser and the other the accused. Since an arrest and arraignment of the accused, almost 4 months ago, a pre conference hearing and a pre evidence hearing have been rescheduled by the prosecution. The accusor claims he was assaulted in an unwarranted attack. The accused has no idea where the accusation came from and has repeatedly denied any altercation or confrontation ever took place. The prosecution contacted the defense attorney offering a polygraph to be conducted between both individuals because neither story corroberates the other....

"Failed" Polygraph and Lost Job
Until recently, I was an officer with a large sheriff's department in the southeast. I was called into IAD after a rumor surfaced in the jail that was supposedly started by a local known prostitute and whom I have had numerous runins with while working a sidejob at the bus station. This rumor was heard by a corrections officer and passed up the chain of command....

Bill Adama Terminates His Polygraph Test

Am I a bad subject? or FAIL?
This one is REALLY long, but I need help. I was really left confused and don't know what to think. I took a polygraph exam for a law enforcement position a day ago and the whole situation was just odd, from start to finish.

Edward B. Van Arsdale Banned
After repeated violations of AntiPolygraph.org's posting policy under different guises, Ponca City, Oklahoma polygraph operator E.B. Van Arsdale has been banned from our forums.

AntiPolygraph.org Receives (and Rejects) a Copyright Takedown Request
On Friday, 20 March 2009, AntiPolygraph.org received a communication from a lawyer for NCS Pearson, Inc. demanding the removal of a post from our message board that purports to list the first 75 questions of the 567-question Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Test 2 (MMPI-2)....

 

 

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