What type of test was this?

[Anonymous Poster]

Hi,

My brother just took a maintenance polygraph exam for my sex offender treatment provider, and was wondering what kind of test this was.  I'm thinking it was a peak of tension, but not sure.

Here are the questions he can remember from the test:

1.  Is your first name _____?
2.  Regarding your conduct since your last test, do you intend to answer truthfully each question I ask about that?
3.  Have you broken any laws since your last test?
4.  Have you touched the sex organs of a minor since your last test?
5.  Have you withheld information from your group since your last test?
6.  Have you lied to your group since your last test?
7.  Have you tried to get a minor to have sex with you since your last test?
There were 2 more, but he can't remember them.  He asked the questions two times and mixed up questions 3 through the end on the second one.

Would this be peak of tension or another kind?  (BTW he passed the test)

[Marty (Guest)]

It is clearly a PLT (CQT) test. He has probably broken one or more laws since his last test or at the very least has to think long and hard about it hence Q3 is the control question.

It's a good thing he tokes up, drives fast, or goes through stop signs at times or he could have well showed a greater reaction to the molesting questions. Virtually everyone is assumed to have "broken laws" at times. It was likely stressed to him by the examiner that persons who molest kids are likely to have broken other laws as well - thus conditioning him to respond to that question.
 
Since he "passed" and you ask this question I suspect he is telling the truth about not molesting and hence the polygraph may well have performed accurately in this case. This also suggests that while many may have knowledge of how polygraphs work, they have not internalized the information and may not be able to apply it under stress.

Interesting.

-Marty