NavCat03,
The Secret Service is arguably the most abusive law enforcement agency in America when it comes to polygraphy. Despite the fact that it is a relatively small agency, USSS job applicants report to us being falsely accused by polygraphers more often than applicants to any other agency. What is more troubling is that the former Secret Service job applicants tend to describe inappropriate behavior on the part of examiners far more frequently than applicants to other agencies. This unprofessional conduct includes, but is not limited to use of profanity, screaming, intimidating gestures, and questions regarding sex with animals.
Quote:The one thing that is crawling under my skin is the Polygraph examination. I'm not worried. I'm just afraid that I will be so nervous I will accidentally set-off the machine or answer "Yes" to a question and screw me out of one year of hard work for a career I want and need so badly.
If you're not concerned, perhaps you should be. You suitability is about to be evaluated via a pseudoscientific procedure that is universally opposed by scientists and academics because it has not shown to be valid when used in a screening application such as pre-employment "testing." Furthermore, if the polygrapher brands you a liar, there is virtually no avenue of appeal available.
The best way to protect yourself against a “false positive” is to learn about polygraphy. The entire procedure is based on trickery, not science.
Quote: Maybe questions they might ask me, how to relax, what sets off the machine.
Put in its simplest form, the polygrapher will attempt to scare you into lying to him on questions about common human flaws like cheating in school, betraying friends, lying to loved ones, etc. He will do this by intimidating you in the pre-test interview. For example, he is likely to go on about cheating in school and college, telling you how cheaters are bad people and have no place in the Secret Service, etc .
When the actual test begins, he will compare your responses to
control questions like “Have you ever cheated in college?” to
relevant questions like “Are you in violation of the Secret Service policy pertaining to illegal drug use?” He will then compare your physiological responses to the two questions. If your response to the question on cheating is greater than the question on drugs, you “pass.” If the opposite is true, you “fail.” And if both are roughly the same, the “test” is judged inconclusive. Not “setting off the machine” when asked the control questions is just as bad as setting it off when asked the questions about things like illegal drug use.
Fortunately, there are ways to ensure that you show enough reaction to the control questions. Known as countermeasures, these techniques are described in detail on this site.
I recommend reviewing the materials available for free on this Web site, starting with the
polygraph FAQ (frequently asked questions), followed by
The Lie Behind the Lie Detector. If you have any further questions, feel free to post them here, or via private message through the forums.