This one is REALLY long, but I need help. I was really left confused and don't know what to think.

I took a polygraph exam for a law enforcement position a day ago and the whole situation was just odd, from start to finish. I have previous law enforcement experience and have "passed" 2 polygraphs before. So I wasn't worried at all and everything was on the table regarding my past.(I was more worried about my upcoming bloodwork - I have high cholesterol)

We started with the usual hour and a half sit-down just talking and getting to know each other; sharing stories about our kids, hobbies etc. Then of course we went over all the questions in my history packet and the examiner selected a few questions and went over the specific ones with me that would be asked on the test. (12 questions to be exact)

Then the examiner told me they had to "make a phone call" and that I should go to the bathroom, get a drink of water and wait in the lobby for about 20 minutes. So I went and waited.

The examiner returned and brought me back to the room, but the chair I had been sitting in was gone. Instead, it had been changed to a high-backed chair with huge arms on it (I had never done one in a chair like this before) and it had pads on the back, seat, and arms. (I was told they were motion sensors)and the damn thing was horribly uncomfortable.

I made a joke about, "Wow! Now this is a torture chair!" but the previously lovable, kind-natured examiner didnt even acknowledge the joke and just plainly said, "Sit down" and began strapping me in.

He/she said they were going to calibrate the instrument to me. I was told to sit still and stare at the wall. After a few minutes, I was handed a pen & pad and told to write a number between 4 and 8. I wrote the number 8.

The examiner snatched the pad from my hand and said very angrily, "I can see we're already going to have problems. You can't even follow simple directions."

I was shocked. I asked what do you mean?

He/she stated, I told you to pick a number between 4 and 8. This is what you picked. Is this number between 4 and 8?

I said yes. 
He said no. 8 is not between 4 and 8.

I stated that normally when someone asked for a number between 1 and 10, that the numbers 1 and 10 are usually included in that range.

They said, "fine. We'll use this number."

Then they told me that they were going to ask me what my number was. I was told to answer "no" to everything. So it came and went and I said, "No" to everything.

Is your number 4? no. Is your number 5? no. Is your number 6? no. Is your number 7? no. Is your number 8? no. Is your number 9? no.

As I finished saying no to 9, the examiner reached over and popped the blood pressure cuff off my arm and said, "you know what. We're gonna stop right here." 

Heturned the computer off and plainly asked, "What is your problem?" I replied, "nothing. Why?" He said obviously there is something wrong because I asked you to do 3 simple things and you can't even do that.

He/she then said, "I need to excuse myself for a minute" and left the room.

The examiner came back about 5-10 minutes later with a sergeant. They both then proceeded to tell me that I was purposely trying to decieve the instrument. I was told that I was moving, that I was controlling my breathing, and that I wasnt focusing on the questions like I was instructed.

The sergeant then accused me of going to a seminar to learn how to beat a lie detector. (A seminar? Really?) She then said that I must have researched it on the internet or something. (of course it wasn't true. I wasnt even half-way concerned about this test; I had passed them with no problems before)

I was then told that I was lying and that my "numbers" on the machine were all over the place and they could tell that I was purposely trying to control my breathing.

The examiner kept asking me why I was lying; over and over. She then said something like, "I'm not going to sit here til 4 o'clock while you decide if you're gonna tell me the truth or not"... After about 15 minutes of these accusations, the sergeant left and was like, "oh well. its your test. go fail it". and with that, we started the test with the real questions.

Each time I finished a series of questions though, the examiner would shake her head, turn off the computer and leave the room in a huff. I really felt that I was doing something wrong.

He/She also changed the "electrodes" on my hand several times. The first series of questions they used the typical metal finger probes... then they changed them and put electrodes on my wrist for the 2nd series of questions... then for the 3rd, they changed them again and put these big pads on my hand.
(what was that all about? any ideas?)

When all was said and done, she left the room to "see if we have enough data to score."

He/She came back and asked if I reacted to any questions. I said nope. I was nervious and felt kinda stiff, but I think I felt the same for all the questions.

I was then asked if I needed to change anything. Of course I don't.

I was then told that it appears I "reacted" to the question of "are you involved in any criminal activity?" I was flabbergasted. I said nope, I told you everything.(insert history) At this point, the examiner said, "You're a liar. Thats why we had the problems at the start of the test.... because you are purposely trying to hide something you dont want us to find out.
"What is it?"

I sat and thought... there is nothing. So I said, "there is nothing more."

Then I was given "one more chance"

The examiner finally said, "ok. fine. I think you are hiding something and that's what my report is going to say. My supervisor will go over it, but he never changes what I find"

But then he/she said something that confused me more, he said, "This doesnt mean you fail. You still need to stay in contact with your background investigator" blah blah blah. (So I didn't fail? What? I thought I "reacted" to something. Doesnt that mean a Fail?)

Then he/she made some off-color remark about "only helping those that can be honest and tell the truth"


OK. Seriously?
I am so confused.

Are these strong-arm tactics an examiner uses? Is it something they do to knock you off-guard or something? Was it purporely done to make me worry? So that I run to my investigator and confess some random sins?

I have never felt such anger and resentment during a polygraph. I honestly felt that I was under attack.

I know this is LONG, and I apologize, but some professional opinions would really help. This has just left me completely confused about everything. Thanks in advance, guys.

Sincerly,
Confused.

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Zomboo,

1.  The polygraph is not a test for truthfulness.

2.  The polygraph is not even a test.

3.  The polygraph is an INTERROGATION disguised as a test!  Pure and simple.

4.  The machine is a "prop".  ANY polygraphic interrogators job  is to get you to BELIEVE in the power and accuracy of their prop.  Specifically, that a "reaction" equals "deception".

5.  However, a "reaction" DOES NOT equal deception.   

6.  Once they get you to believe in their magic box, their job is then to get information out of you.  "THE MACHINE SAYS YOU ARE LYING!  WHAT ARE YOU HIDING?!!!!"

7.  If you know the REAL science behind the machine (and the fallacy upon which the examiner is operating) and admit it to them, they will get all huffy and puffy, and accuse you of countermeasures or of having the utter temerity of finding out the REAL facts about the polygraph.  They hate it when people do that.  That's why they hate this board.

8.  If they succeed in pressuring you into saying something, no matter how insignificant it is, they may well blow it out of all proportion, distort it and use it against you to justify their fallacious theory "See!  We knew you were hiding something!  The machine doesn't lie!  You lie LIAR!"

9.  Polygraphers are the liars.  The longer they've been doing polygraphs, the more pathological their lying will be.  The whole process depends on you falling for their deception.

TC

P.S.  Polygraphers who come here have repeatedly denied the above.  One just got banned (for the 2nd time).  According to him, it was an "overgeneralization" to claim that polygraphers routinely claim the machine "detects deception".

Quote:


No, it would have been better that you read it, and kept it to yourself.  If the polygraph is so damn accurate and scientific, what difference would it make?  By asking if you have ever researched the polygraph, their just trying to gauge how gullible you might be.  You could even take it a step further and say "Gee, I've heard the polygraph is REALLY accurate.  98% even.  Is that true?  Wow!"

Polygraphers would respond by saying that you should be totally honest, even though they are trying to dupe you and being deceptive themselves.

Standard response it, "why not just tell the truth?"  Of course, that is PRECISELY what you did, and got called a liar anyway.  So whats the freaking point!

If you walk into a used car lot and the slick car salesman asks you "how much you willing to spend lad?", or "Been to any other car lots?", would you necessarily feel obligated to answer them truthfully?

I got ask the first question in 1998 at a car lot.  My answer?  "How low are you willing to go?"  He gave me a nasty look, walked away and quit pestering me!   

TC

P.S.  Tell your family and friends about your experience.  Dispel  the myth!  Expose the truth!

Zomboo,

Each time I read a variant of my experience I get more and more nauseated. I almost would suspect at some point that this storyline should just be included as an introduction to this forum. First time I read a story like this, it read like a script that was familiar in some sort of way until I realized it was the script that the examiner had played out with me as well.

Damnit TMC... dont you know the magic box already "knows" whether I'm telling the truth or not.  

But seriously, hearing that there are other people who have had very similiar experiences/tactics used on them, I still wonder, is this type of verbal assault used to "scare" someone into admitting something? or to make you think they know something when they don't? Or do I just chalk it up to the fact that my examiner may not of liked of me, and thus, I "fail".

T.M. Cullen wrote on Mar 24^th, 2009 at 6:24am:



Personally, I didnt' pucker.. I'm tired of bending over for people like that. In Law Enforcement, there are always layers of people in the hiring process that believe they are your 'God' for that particular step. It's a shame that an interrogation technique must be attempted, as it is wholly unnecessary. Most of us just want to serve our community (or have already done so for years) and don't deserve to be treated like criminals. I'm so pissed off that its all just one big game- and "failing" the game or failing to play along means that a good officer might not be hired.

T.M. Cullen wrote on Mar 24^th, 2009 at 6:24am:


Hmm. I really dont know how to answer that one. I had 12 questions and each one was exactly the same. Basically, they went like this: Other than what you've already told me, have you ever (insert crime here)?

ie: Other than what we've already talked about, have you ever lied to an authority figure?

Other than what you've told me, did you lie about your involvement in criminal activity?

etc etc etc x12


synstsia wrote on Mar 24^th, 2009 at 12:18pm:


And that Syn, is EXACTLY the problem. 

Quote:



I hear you..  Loads of background investigations, psychological testing and personal interviews can all be 'debunked' by a single subjective test.. Not to mention the propensity for ego to get thrown into the mix- You mentioned the possibility that the examiner, for whatever reason, may not have liked you- well, when a single person (in some cases, someone not even affiliated with the agency you're applying to) gets so much power, it can go straight to their heads.