I was required recently to take a polygraph examination.
Since I had a month to prepare, I read, re-read, and re-re-re-read the "lie behind the lie detector" book. I basically memorized it. Much practice resulted in memorization of the counter-measure procedures as listed in the book.
By nature, I can have emotional response to just being accused of something, regardless if I did it or not. For example if I'm accused by my girlfriend of going out with the guys to the sportsbar when I told her I was helping my mother, I'll get flushed in the face even if I never went to the bar!
Since this large job opportunity was at stake, I even acquired a old but good working Sholting polyscribe and practiced with it so I would exactly know how I would react when hooked to the machine.
Thursday I had the polygraph examination. The examiner did exactly the same behavior has mentioned in your book. The pre-test interrogation, the stim test,etc. He was using an analog machine of the 1980's.
His stim test comprised of having me pick a paper out of a fish bowl, and answer 'no' when asked all numbers hooked up to the machine. I sure bet every paper in that bowl had the number 5 on it! I employed the countermeasures as stated in the book only when asked to answer 'no' to the number five I picked. After the stim test the polygraph went into the rant about how I was a screamer and etc. I think he was genuinely happy with the results of the stim test from watching his behavior. He even showed me the chart and how the BP went up and said "I'll know when you lie on the tests".
The first test was comprised of 3 revelent, 3 control and 5 irrevelent questions. This test was repeated 3 times.
On the second test, it had 3 revelent, 2 control, and 6 irrevelent questions. The first time was the regular way, second time was 'silent test" and third was the regular way too. All three times had the exact same questions asked however, in different order. I did not get fooled by the silent test and I am 99.9999% sure I correctly identified the control questions.
Prior to the exam he said the results would be available a few minutes after the exam. Suddenly at the end of the exam he said he wife called and he had no time to score them and would give me the results the next day. I did not fall into any of the "traps" of Reid's old book stating behavior of a deceptive person (i.e. apologizing for inconvience, asking how I did immediately following the exam, etc).
Two days after the exam he called and said I failed the tests and was deceptive on all the "important questions". For some reason, do you think that some over-zealous examiners are now identifying any physical response or reaction to control questions as described in your book under countermeasures as trying to 'fake the test' and immediately fails the subject? There was no reasoning with this guy on the telephone, his attitude was "by damn I know it and thats that".
Since I failed, I appealed to my future employer to grant a second opinion test in another town with a different examiner.
I feel good about the test I supposidity "failed" and don't see how I could of failed it due to my extensive practice.
Truly, I am very very very mad at I he labeled me as deceptive about things I told the truth on! I never have used illegal drugs such as Cocaine or Marijuana in my life and yet he is accusing me of taking them and lying to him on the test!
Well, I took the second test and passed all questions except one, and because of that the examiner labeled me "deceptive". Why is it that I can show no deception on all but one question and just because of the one, the examiner labels me as being deceptive and basically throws out the rest of the whole test.
At least unlike the first test the examiner didn't get confrontational. Tried to get me to confess though...like why in the heck am I going to confess to something I never did!
This darn machine and the junk BS science that goes along with it just ruined my life and my job career.
I may try taking other polygraph exams....eventually I should get one that reflects the truth?! Granted the polygraph is biased against those who get nervous when asked about an emotional situation (David Lykken, researcher), but since the polygraph is so abstract, should eventually I get a truthful [favorable] opinion?
Since I am a nervous person who gets upset with accusations being made against me true or not, and employing all the counter-measures in the book did not help, would perhaps some medication obtainable from my family doctor help control my anxiety and thus help with a more accurate examination?
I'm at wits end here, this so-called 'lie detector' detects not lies but physical responces.....responces that are not unique to lies.