Anonymous,
You write, in part:
Quote:George, in regards to incorrectly attempted countermeasures, I did read in a book entitled "Deception Detection: Winning the Polygraph Game" by Charles Clifton that certain physical countermeasures (e.g. altered breathing), when used INCORRECTLY, can in fact alert the examiner to countermeasure attempt. Honestly, I don't see how this could not be the case. Unfortunately I don't have the book in front of me to quote but I do remember diagrams showing breathing pattern charts. I seem to remember one chart showing jagged points between inhales and exhales rather than a smooth transition. The caption indicated that these points can occur when an examinee incorrectly attempts to alter breathing patterns. The pattern is unnatural and identifiable as an attempt to use countermeasures.
This is what I was considering when I advised this person that, should he/she take the exam, he/she may want to consider not using countermeasures, at least physical countermeasures. I will look for the book and post more information.
I think you might be confusing Doug Williams' "How to Sting the Polygraph" manual with Clifton's book (which has no illustrations). Williams maintains that one should breath so as to produce a rounded (non-jagged) pneumograph tracing. The following is quoted from the 2000 edition of "How to Sting the Polygraph":
Quote:The polygraher [sic] is constantly alert of a person who is controlling his breathing. (See Exhibit D) You will notice the difference between the normal and controlled breathing pattern. The controlled breather shows his attempt to control by consciously thinking of his breathing only to the point that he inhales and exhales, he breathes in and immediately breathes out, showing a jagged edged tracing. You should show a normal breathing pattern on all the questions except the control questions. I don't want you to be obvious about this, I simply want you to breathe the way you normally do - whatever is normal for you. A normal breathing pattern is one you can maintain easily for about ten minutes. You must spend some time practicing this so that it will appear "normal" on the chart.
When you answer the relevant questions, your breathing should appear even and restful. You have a pattern for a normal breathing if you simply breathe as though you are asleep and you are not aware of your breathing. Try to inhale and exhale the same amount of air each time in order to maintain the even baseline. This normal breathing pattern is what the polygrapher would expect to see from a cooperative, truthful person. Remember: (1) your breathing is recorded on the polygraph chart by the pneumo pens, (2) you must avoid a jagged edged breathing pattern, and (3) breathe as though you are breathing in a normal relaxed manner. Practice duplicating the normal breathing pattern until you can control your breathing without being obvious.
However, in Reid and Inbau's textbook,
Truth & Deception: The Polygraph ("Lie-Detector") Technique, sample charts of "truthful" subjects are shown with both rounded and jagged pneumo traces:
For related reading, see the discussion thread,
How Countermeasures are Detected on the Charts in which a polygraph examiner (who posted as "J.B.") hypothesized that
rounded respiratory tracings were a giveaway for countermeasure use.
Based on the available evidence, I think there is little cause for worry about whether one is producing a jagged or rounded pneumo tracing. Key points to bear in mind in establishing one's baseline breathing pattern are not to take
deep breaths and not to breathe too slowly (15-30 breaths in-and-out per minute are considered "normal").
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FBI pre-employment polygraph questions (Read 84557 times)
