posted 10-29-2007 05:24 PM            

Complex and scary topic there, stat.

For sure, alcohol and food problems are not unique to polygraph, and we don't really know about their prevalence relative to other subgroups.

I've been doing some reading about impaired airline pilots, because I may have a chance to help with some neuropsych testing of alcohol/drug addicted, TBI, training/performance failure, and HIV seropostive pilots. (comforting, I know, put all the pilots in rehab in time for holiday travel).

We probably don't know enough yet about the personality and psychological characteristics of polygraph examiners. We know more of pilots and police officers. For example, we know that police applicants tend to have high 5 m/f scales on MMPIs, high enough that we'd be suspicious in others. However, because more than 60% of police have a high 5 scales, interpretations of elevations of that scale are difficult.

Similarly, validity indices for MMPIs of pilots are trouble, because they tend to deny psychological concerns, and present themselves in what looks like an overly favorable manner. But because a generally elevated proportion do that, interpretation of results for individual from that subgroup is unsound, unless using normative data that are stratified for pilots. Same with certain types of attentional and neuromotor skills.

It would be interesting to see some psychological batteries of examiners.

I had a funny experience the other day with some Rhorschach (inkblot) cards.

Anyway, just as there is with prison guards and pilots, there are identifiable progressions through which people in certain roles become compromised, cynical at risk for ethical breeches, vulnerable to exploitation, or even at risk for relationship failure, addiction/compulsivity, or self harm.

Correlations and causality as sometimes counterintuitive. We've all heard about suicide rates among some police populations, and psychiatrists (and doctors) seem to have among the highest rates. Divorce rates are elevated among psychotherapists. Some professionals report high levels of isolation. Years of education are positively correlated with divorce, and the massive general social survey has shown that more years of education has tended to be associated with more hours at work each week - not less, as is generally thought of as a reason for gaining more education.

Lots of good questions though.

r

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"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 10-30-2007 09:20 AM         

[This message has been edited by stat (edited 10-30-2007).]

posted 10-30-2007 03:27 PM            

I for one, have achieve perfect balance between work and personal life.

OK everyone, put your polygraph gear away - I was lying.

I've been too busy to finish my trebuchet in time to lob pumpkins into the lake this past weekend. Imagine my jealousy and some guy with a big-arsed air-cannon who nearly cleared the lake. All I've got is a pile of parts and a bright idea. Maybe next year.

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All the personal stuff does not make one turn against polygraph or anything else.

No matter how much any of us don't love everything about the polygraph test or the polygraph biz, there is always an individual choice trying to make a productive change or improvement and becoming disruptive or antagonistic. The choice each person makes is really more about themselves. In short, if you believe people inherently good, then they make evil choices out of anger, resentment, fear. If you think people inherently evil then making disruptive and harmful choices is simply a matter of giving up, or unbridled selfishness.

r

------------------
"Gentlemen, you can't fight in here. This is the war room."
--(Stanley Kubrick/Peter Sellers - Dr. Strangelove, 1964)

posted 10-30-2007 03:34 PM            

As for voyeruistic parts of PCSOT - I don't enjoy it. But I can't act like I want to throw up when I hear their deviancies. I will admit, many years ago, when I was a Sup at a Halfway House for Parolees, they had a great impact on my life....I will never look at apples and oranges again the same way I did before supervising sex offenders...don't ask. Retirement is great. I get a 'restitution'(lol) check every month and can work in polys as much or as little as I want. Although I don't feel like I am retired, I am not holding the cases inside like I did before retiring.

You have to have enjoyment along with the polys. When I started I was told to reduce stress w/excercise (didn't really listen to that part) and find enjoyment. I bought a Harley and took off. When ever I want to clear my head - I go for a ride!