retcopper, 

I take it from the name you are a retired cop yourself. I understand it is a stressful process, anyone who could say they enjoy an interrogation would need to get their marbles checked. I think the key is controlling your anxiety and making it through....it's supposed to be a few hours. Do you or anyone else have any success stories?

Being honest is the only way I go. Many say that this may not be effective. I have no skeletons in my closet and I'm pretty open about things. I just get concerned when major questions come up, I know they're major and I react to them. It's like they're waiting for that slip up in heart rate....and it happens. Countermeasures and things of that sort are just not my bag, so I will not even look into that. I guess I'll just let the chips fall where they may and deal with it accordingly. 

Any good polygraph session stories that anyone may want to bring up would be appreciated. 

DrM

Remember that a lot of the posters here are not polygraph examiners but you would never know it by the amount of "advice" they give. Being apprehensive and anxious is normal.  If you have some issues that concern you then discuss them with the examiner. Just you and the examiner will be present.

doctorM wrote on Sep 11^th, 2005 at 7:10pm:

Am I a polygrapher?  No.  Read some of my other posts...   

I agree. So you were or are a polygrapher? 

If so, do you find it very common for people to be very anxious and tightly wound going into this? I think it's human nature. 

To be honest is one thing, to be going in there with all these countermeasure techniques is not my thing. I'm not going to be biting my tongue or shifting around a certain way....if it was meant to be, it was meant to be. 

How long should this procedure take? How many people will be present? What is you're advice going into this?

doctorM wrote on Sep 11^th, 2005 at 6:16pm:

It would be nice if all you had to do to pass a polygraph was tell the truth.  As you have already learned from reading all the personal accounts on this site, that is definitely not the case.

I encourage everyone to tell the truth, but you should also be aware that doing so does not assure one of passing a polygraph.  It still frustrates me when I see polygraph examiners or supporters advising people to “just tell the truth and everything will be fine.”

It seems that polygraph examiners and their supporters would be satisfied if everyone simply took the polygraph while being honest and not employing any countermeasures.  If they “pass” this way then they have nothing to complain about.   

However, if they fail, then we know they were either being deceptive or that they are one of the unfortunate false-positives.  If they were being deceptive then the machine and the examiner functioned as intended.  If they were a false-positive, then they should simply understand that nothing is perfect or 100% accurate and it’s better to unfairly “fail” a hundred honest applicants if in doing so you also “fail” the one who was trying to lie about his past.

That seems to be the attitude many of them have.  Applicants should just take the test and STFU.  Don’t try to protect yourself by researching the test or keeping yourself calm by breathing.  Don’t think exciting thoughts or bite your tongue during the test.  If you pass, that’s great.  If you don’t, well, nothing is perfect and you were probably being deceptive anyway, so stop rocking the boat.

I wonder how many examiners would still feel that way if they were forced to undergo a polygraph.  If they told the truth and still failed, would they be willing to “take one for the team”, realizing that nothing is perfect or 100% accurate all the time?  Somehow I don’t think they would.

so being up front is good? I thought they interpret that as planned untruthfulness. I don't know how someone could not be buggin from such a test. Everyone I tell says well if you have nothing to hide then you shouldn't worry. It's really unfortunate that people have to do this for a job....and that it has future reprocussions. It's a machine that is controlled by a judge and jury of one that makes your ultimate fate. Now with that in mind, they tell you to relax, and breath normally.....any person in their right mind would be anxious.

Doctor:

Be up front in the beginning and if you have any questions that bother you before hand discuss them with the examiner. Despite what a lot of the doom sayers write here the examiner is not out to persecurte you.

doctorM wrote on Sep 9^th, 2005 at 4:57am:


That can be a problem, because the most commonly used polygraph technique depends on the assumption that everyone will be less than honest when answering the so-called "probable-lie control" questions.

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Indeed, it can be a problem. If you're more nervous when answering the relevant questions than you are when answering the "control" questions, you're likely to fail. It doesn't matter that you're telling the truth.

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Not necessarily. Sometimes applicants will be brought back for a follow-up polygraph session.

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Yes.

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There's really no way of telling.

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Yes, it is completely normal for truthful people to react physiologically when asked accusatory questions about things they have never done, especially when the consequences of not being believed are great. There's nothing wrong with you. The problem lies with agencies that are relying on an inherently unreliable procedure to assess the honesty and integrity of applicants.

I think it would be a big mistake to tell your polygrapher that you have a problem with nervousness or anxiety. Any such statement is likely to be interpreted as an indication of deception: a liar trying to explain in advance why he is going to have problems passing.

For information on polygraph procedure, and how to reduce the risk of a false positive outcome, see Chapters 3 & 4 of The Lie Behind the Lie Detector.

Ok....I have a little problem where my heart races and breathing deepens when asked "red flaged question"....in other words questions of importance. Diqualifying questions. I'm going for police officer. I took a poly before and thought I was a complete disaster when that machine was hooked to me.....told numerous times not to move. Finally when the questions were fired at me, I bugged at all the important ones. He obviously knew, and questioned me about them. I have nothing to hide, I'm squeeky clean, never even stole a pen from an office.....it's just not in my nature. I don't believe in deciept even in the simplest form. 

The problem lies here. When questions about drugs, sex, lies, and theft came into play.....those words just sent my heart racing cause I knew what he was looking for. Afterwords I didn't confess to a thing when grilled....after all I wasn't lying. 

I was then told that I'd have to go in again for a more detailed exam narrowing down what "bothered" me.....is this just bull? He also said that any other municipality I apply for will be privy to these results. I'm apply to Police and Fire depts.....could this hurt my future chances? There are alot of questions I have.

My final question is; does the state police poly held at the state police barricks differ from the privately held ones....(PI firms hired by cities to conduct the test) My next exam (different department from the first) is at the state police headquarters and I've heard certain things about that.....that it's a little tougher. 

Are my physical reactions normal? Does anyone else have this problem? Should I be up front with the examiner?

Anyone with any advice will be sincerely appreciated. Thanks.