Marty-

Another good question, but one in which I can only answer in retrospect. Also, a difficult one, indeed......as I am required to psychoanalyze myself-a task which is biased, at best.

But to answer your question, and to put it in simpler terms, I think that having read TLBTLD, and having an understanding of the purpose of the 'control' questions MAY have resulted in stronger unconscious physiological responses. In fact, on another note-I daresay that having read TLBTLD  heightened my anxiety about false positives, and may have increased the chances of my own failure, based on that anxiety. Hindsight is 20/20.

Kona-

You are right. My use of CM's on only a couple of 'control' questions makes no sense. I had no plan, first of all, to use CM's during the 'test'. It was a conscious decision not to employ them not only due to ethics (which I am not sure I could use as a valid excuse anyway) but primarily because I had not practiced and perfected them enough to believe they would go unnoticed and be effective. I tried them out on a couple questions just for the hell of it to see if I could do it unnoticed. Whether they influenced the test is a question which I will never know the answer to. Also, the official results of my examination have yet to be seen. I just have a strong suspicion that I failed......................but who knows? I will post the results if and when I get them. And I suspect that there will be no 'next time'. I suggest to all concerned with FBI employment that they read "The Bureau" by Ronald Kessler-it will open your collective eyes, if nothing else.

Regards,

Undesirable