The federal government uses the polygraph in the security clearance process because it is useful for eliciting disqualifying admissions and derogatory information that background investigators could not know based on a background investigation. The disqualifying admissions and derogatory information during a polygraph session come out of the mouth of the subject. What they say in the polygraph room can and are used against them. The polygrapher is trained to interrogate and elicit these admissions. They use interrogation tactics and manipulative techniques to get subjects to disclose misconduct or actions they are ashamed of that they have done in their private lives that they have not disclosed to anyone. You might hear them say, "This is not like a job interview; now is not the time to look qualified and at your best. This is the Top Secret level, where you can prove that you are fit for clearance by disclosing anything preventing you from succeeding on the polygraph. We are trying to help you be successful, and you need to work with us to remove anything from your system causing those reactions on the polygraph charts. Share whatever it is on your mind, anything you have done that is causing these reactions." Polygraphers hide under the guise of attempting to help the subject to be "successful" in this manner, but actually, their real goal is to get the subject to keep making disqualifying admissions. They will use the minimization technique of interrogation, where they minimize or make disqualifying admissions seem less severe and serious than they really are like they are not a big deal. They might say, "You are not the only one who has done it," "It is actually normal behavior," and "I know many other people who do it too," when actually, they are just trying to get the subject to keep disclosing damaging information. They will use the information you share about your private life against you to deny you your clearance.