I take my polygraph test for a local police department in about 24 hours. 

LBTLD states:
In a probable-lie “Control” Question “Test,” the polygrapher will tell you that you must answer all questions truthfully, but he actually assumes that you will be deceptive when answering the “control” questions. He will deceive you about that expectation. “Control” questions tend to be broad and sweeping, spanning a long period of time. Common “control” questions include:
• Have you ever lied to a loved one?
• Have you ever taken something that does not belong to you?”
• Since the age of 18, have you ever considered hitting someone in anger?

Since most everyone can answer “yes” to all of these questions, the typical examinee will admit to one or two minor transgressions. The polygrapher will then move to contain these admissions, in order to leave you with the uneasy feeling that you haven’t told all. The polygrapher accomplishes this by trying to convince you that any further admissions on these questions will call your character and integrity into question, and that you would end up failing the “test” before it even begins. Following limited admissions, the “control” questions often end up structured as, “Other than what you told me, have you ever lied to a loved one?” The theory is that when you answer the question “no,” you must still be withholding something, or at least feel uneasy about not remembering some incident from long ago. The polygrapher treats your response to this question as though it were a lie.


I read this and am a little confused which is why I am asking now before my test. I now understand I should just say "No" to these kinds of questions instead of trying to explain that everyone lies. But I also want to know if these are the questions I want to bite the side of my tongue and do block breathing after I answer?

Do I have to hit every single Probable-Lie question in order for this to work? What if I recognize some and react to those but not others?

Thank you Mr. Maschke, this is really helping me a lot.

After I say "No" when asking if I ever lied to a loved one, is he going to tell me that he knows I am lying and try to press me for confession or will he not say anything because he wants me to lie here?


Say for instance I was honest about something I didn't know was a control question. For instance, have you ever thought of hitting someone, and I say yes. He asks me to explain and I say I am sure I have but can't think of a situation right now. If I remember the book says he will change the question to "Other than what you have told me, have you ever thought of hitting someone" This is still going to be a control question even though it is just reworded correct?

The Sacrifice Relevant Question is technically a control question that just isn't counted right?

The example given in the book is "Do you intend to answer all questions truthfully?" kind of sounds like a control question to me, or is it not?

George W. Maschke wrote on Aug 17^th, 2016 at 2:39pm:


That makes sense. I will do the counter measures on it regardless so it doesn't draw any suspicion. 

I guess I am just having a hard time seeing what questions would be probable-lie control questions.

So far it seems like the majority of questions that start with "Have you ever...." or "Do you ever..." are probable-lie control. Especially ones that I could see any person in the world answering. For instance "Have you ever lied to a family member" Is that basically all I need to know about probable-lie control?