The polygraph was one of the most nerveracking situations that I have ever been through. I sat in the waiting room for 2 1/2 hours after completing all of the necessary paperwork (background packet etc.). As my luck goes, the air conditioner was broken and the waiting room was a toasty 90 degrees. Luckily they had someone working on it while I was waiting, and about half way they had it cooling off again. After completing the background packet, the secretary handed me a sheet with the questions that I was to be asked. I figured that they did this to instill fear, and to entice me to recollect any relevant events that I may have forgotten about or planning to lie about. I simply glanced at the questions one time through and then turned the paper over and continued reading a magazine. Reading a magazine definitely kept my mind clear, but I knew in the back of my mind that the questions were going to be asked. The polygrapher called my name and led me into the interrogation room, and began reviewing my background packet. He seemed very polite and took on the role of being my friend and wanting to help me "get a badge." TLBTLD explained this clearly and I knew that he was only trying to squeeze admissions out of me. He did not explain the polygraph to me, nor did he tell me that the polygraph will detect lies, he told me that if I lie my body will created physical responses that will be detected by the graph. He seemed straightforward and honest, however I did not buy in to his game. He then hooked me up and he began asking these questions at 30 second intervals (not in exact order; but approximate). 1) Did you lie about your name? 2) Did you withhold any information from your application? 3) Did you tell me everything about your drug use/possession? 4) Is there anything that you're afraid that the police might find out during your background investigation? 5) Have you ever lied to your friends? 6) Have you ever struck a spouse, family memeber or friend? 7) Have you stolen cash, or property from any person or company other than your employer, other than what you have told me? 8) Have you driven under the influence of drugs or alcohol more than what you have told me? 9) Have you had any illegal sexual interactions such as children, prostitution. animals, or sex involving money? 10) Have you withheld any information regarding prior convictions, or arrests? 11) Are you afraid that the police might find out information regarding your job, other than what you have told me? That is what he asked me the first time, he then rearranged the order of the questions the second time. I tried to remain calm during the test at all times, I picked a spot on the wall and stared at it the whole time, clearing my head of thoughts and focusing on other events like school, sports etc. I really almost "spaced out" during the test and just answered the questions. I did feel as though I was responding to some of the relevant questions, so I made sure to try to create responses on the questions that I thought control questions by thinking of specific events that created an anxious feeling that were irrelevant to that specific question. I USED NO PHYSICAL COUNTERMEASURES, I ONLY RECOGNIZED THE TYPES OF QUESTIONS, AND TRIED TO MENTALLY CREATE RESPONSES. HERE IS MY DILLEMMA... He stared at his computer screen for about 10 minutes without saying a word and then said, quote: "it was not the best chart in the world, but it looks to be ok to pass." He then asked me if there was anything about theft that I did not tell him, he then asked about the application question and told me that I showed some type of response to both (he did not explain the severity). I denied both questions firmly and also denied them a second time when asked. He then said that it was looked like it was passing and that he was going to send a report out to my background investigator. SO does this mean that I passed? or is the polygrapher pulling my chain? I am kind of confused, he did not say "congratulations you passed" or "you passed" deliberately, I am trying to read him and figure out what he means, or if there is going to be some type of secondary review of the polygraph. If anyone knows what he means, or has any ideas, please respond...I hope this information deems helpful for others that are going to be in the same situation.
|