Quote:The first test I was way more anxious but was deemed inconclusive. This one, my heart was pounding, but he said it was pounding more often during a particular question. Regardless of whether polygraphs are reliable, would anxiety throw them off?
Read the quote at the bottom of my posts by Dr. Phil Zimbardo who was Chairman of the Psychology Dept. at Standford University.
Increased "Fight, flight, freeze" reactions as measure by the polygraph do NOT equate unequivocally to 'deception'. So you could have told him that. If he is focusing on one question and falsely accusing you of lying, then your mind could easily label that question as a "bogey" question and your subconscious will produce a defensive or "fight" response. Has nothing directly to do with lying or holding back information. Just that your brain is being "defensive" about that question, because it is THAT question he is calling you a liar on, when you are being truthful. Don't you think that is enough to make a truthfull person react?
You actually have three brains. The "cortex" (seat of concsious thought), which influences the "lymbic system" (seat of emotions) which sends signals to the "brain stem", which unconsciously controls your heart rate, sweat glands, adrenal gland...etc.
Anyway, sounds like you got the hang of it. Sometimes it's best to just call a polygrapher "out" . After all, he was lying to you. Don't just take what he say's as gospel. Make him back up his claims and hopefully catch him in a lie! They you have grounds for just saying, "hey, you're bull shitting me here. I am trying to be honest, but I'm starting to see this for the sham it is!".
Of course that will piss off most polygraph operators, but like I said, looked like he was going to fail you anyway.